Ring in the New Year with a Healthy Glow

With the new year just around the corner many of us will be coming up with our New Years Eve resolutions. For many it will involve getting rid of those few extra pounds from the holidays, for others it may be spending more time with the family or getting that promotion at work.  But what about a resolution to take better care of your skin? 

Our skin, especially our face, is the first thing someone notices about us, but it often is something that we don’t always take good care of.  Many people think that in order to take care of our skin we have to invest money in expensive creams and lotions.  However, good skin health can be simple. 

Wearing a daily sunscreen is essential to protect our skin from the damaging UV rays that do not only age and wrinkle or skin, but cause skin cancers as well. Especially living in Florida where the sun is unavoidable. When out in the sun for an extended period of time it is important to reapply your sunscreen every two to three hours to give us the protection that is needed.  Dr. Badia and her staff have done extensive research on different sunscreen products available on the market and can give you recommendations on a sunscreen based on your skin needs.

Another great way to take care of your skin is to see your dermatologist yearly.  Dermatologists can treat precancerous lesions and can monitor or biopsy any suspicious moles or growths which will help reduce your risk of getting skin cancer.

We hope everyone has a safe and happy new year!

See you next year.

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Dr. Badia’s Favorite Products of 2010

Often times, patients ask Dr. Badia what her recommendations are for skin care products.  At Florida Skin Center we carry many skin care lines that are targeted for all types of skin types.  Dr. Badia and her staff do extensive research on product lines that we feel would benefit our patients the best.  So what are Dr. Badia’s favorite products of 2010?

TNS Recovery Complex
This product is made by the company SkinMedica. It is a serum that contains growth factors and proteins to help improve skin texture, diminish fine lines and improve collagen and elasticity of the skin. 
It’s a great product for all skin types that can be used in the morning and at night. Although it is one of our high end products, it’s great for patients who are looking for that one great product that does it all. 

Latisse
The next product on Dr. Badia’s list of favorites is Latisse, made by the company Allergan.  I am sure many of you have seen the commercial with the beautiful Brooke Shields promoting the product.  The good news, this product actually works! 
Latisse is a prescription medication used to treat hypotrichosis of the eyelids (inadequate eyelashes). This medication was originally used to treat ocular hypertension but one of the side effects of the medication was long fuller darker lashes. Allergan then received FDA approval to treat hypotrichosis.  
This medication is applied to daily to the lashes and results can be seen within 16 weeks.
You can see our before and after pictures here >

 

Retinol Complex
The last product on Dr. Badia’s list of favorites is the Retinol Complex, another product from SkinMedica. I am sure many of you have heard that using a retinol or retin a cream is an important part of good skin health to diminish fine lines, exfoliate and help control oil.  
What makes this product different from the others? It contains three forms of vitamin A which penetrate the skin at different rates through micro-encapsulated technology.  However, unlike other retin a products, it does not cause redness or burning when applied, so it’s great for those of us with sensitive skin. It is applied once daily at nighttime.

If you would like to find out more information about these products or any of the other product lines we carry at the office please feel free to give us a call.

We hope everyone has a very safe and happy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Florida Skin Center

What is that Cold Stuff?

Often times, we get asked by our patients, “What’s in those canisters?”  The answer: Liquid Nitrogen. Liquid Nitrogen therapy has been used by dermatologists for centuries.  And it is one of the most common treatments done here at Florida Skin Center.  Dr. Badia and staff use liquid nitrogen treatment for removal of warts, molluscum contagiosum, age spots and precancerous lesions. Liquid nitrogen is a cold liquefied gas with a boiling point of – 196C.  When liquid nitrogen is sprayed on a lesion on your skin, it “freezes” it and destroys the lesion. For larger lesions, more than one application of liquid nitrogen may be necessary to completely remove the lesion.  Liquid nitrogen is so cold that when it is initially sprayed on a spot, it feels hot and causes a burning sensation.  This burning sensation only lasts about 15-20 minutes.  However, we do offer numbing cream to our patients to minimize this discomfort. A few days after liquid nitrogen therapy, the lesion will become blistered and scabbed.  Most lesions will resolve with one treatment however warts and molluscum can take more treatments. 

Please remember to come and see us this Saturday at noon for our Fillers and Botox workshop.

Sincerely,

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Spider Veins on the Face

Facial Telangectasias or facial spider veins are a common complaint we see in the office. Patients often ask us how broken blood vessels can be treated and what they are caused from.  Telangectasias are superficial blood vessels that become dilated.  They are often associated with rosacea, but can also be caused from chronic sun exposure, genetics, systemic diseases, medications and in some cases the cause is unknown.                                                                                                                                         

The gold standard for treatment for these broken blood vessels is laser therapy.  Here at FSC, we use the Candela V Beam Laser to treat this condition. Dr. Badia has been using this laser therapy to treat patients for the last eight years.  This laser produces an intense, but gentle burst of light that selectively destroys the blood vessels of your spider veins, without damaging the surrounding tissue. After laser treatment, the surrounding tissue is left intact. Most patients will require more than one treatment to get the most benefit from this therapy, but patients will see improvements with each treatment. Side effects are minimal, but some patients could get bruising from the treatment that generally lasts five days. To minimize the side effect of bruising for patients, Dr. Badia does recommend a supplement called arnica.  You no longer have to live with embarrassing spider veins. Please ask Dr.Badia or any of her staff for more information about this exciting treatment. 

Hope to see you soon.  Don't forget about our Botox and Filler workshop on Dec 4.

Sincerely,

Florida Skin Center

Grab A Gobbler

We are excited to tell you about our upcoming event.  On Monday November 15^th, we will be hosting our Annual Grab a Gobbler event.  Dr. Badia and Florida Skin Center will be giving away 100 free turkeys to help families less fortunate this holiday season.  Dr. Badia and her staff understand that with the changes in the economy, there has been a rise in the number of people seeking the most basic necessity: Food.  With this event, we hope to reach out to those who need help the most in our community.  If you know someone who could benefit from this event please have them come by.

Grab a Gobbler

Monday Nov 15th

Florida Skin Center

13691 Metropolis Ave
Fort Myers Fl 33912

Event Start Time: 4pm

Please keep in mind that we would like to help as many families as possible so limit 1 turkey per family.

Hope to see you soon.  

Happy Holidays

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The Start of the Holiday Season

With holidays just around the corner, for many it means meeting with family and friends that we do not get to see very often.  With that being said, this time of year is a great time to “improve” our skin in subtle ways to get a fresh healthy look. A great way to achieve this is with a liquid facelift.

A liquid facelift uses a combination of Botox cosmetic and fillers such as Restylane or Juvaderm to diminish fine lines and to fill and create volume. It is something that can be done over lunch and most importantly the effects are immediate.  Dr. Badia has done advanced training in injecting both Botox and Cosmetic Fillers.  Please visit our before and after section on our website to see actual patients who have had this treatment done and for details on the treatments themselves www.floridaskincenter.com

Isn’t it time you treated yourself to something nice.

Hope to see you soon.

Florida Skin Center

Harmful Effects of Tanning Beds

There has been a lot of controversy recently regarding indoor tanning beds and their safety.  To better understand the effects of tanning booths we must have a better understanding of the two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVB and UVA. The UVB rays are the sunburn rays.  UVA are the “tanning rays” and although they do not cause sunburn they penetrate the skin deeper and cause more damage.

One of the most dangerous effects of tanning beds is that people may think they are safer than the sun and therefore expose their skin longer than they would on the beach. Overexposure to UV radiations on a tanning bed damages the skin and our eyes and can even potentially lead to developing malignant melanoma. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatologists has found that there is a 75% increase in the risk of melanoma in those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning.

There is also a myth that indoor tanning salons are good because they give our body Vitamin D which keeps our skin and bones healthy. Although Vitamin D is necessary, only a very small amount of sunlight is needed for our body to make it. There is no need for a suntan.

The harmful effects (aging skin and cancer) of tanning beds are often not seen until later in life giving the illusion that they are safe and cause no harm.  Dr. Badia never recommends her patients to use tanning salons.  However, for those of us who still feel the need to have a “healthy glow”, Dr. Badia recommends the self tanner lotions or spray tans.

Hope to see you soon.

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A Big Thanks to Our Patients

Today we want to thank all of our patients that came for their skin checks on Oct 5^th.  Thanks to your support we were able to donate over $300 dollars to the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer.  As an office full of women we were happy to be able to donate to such a great cause and we couldn’t have done it without the support from our patients.

Remember to look for us on Oct 23^rd at the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K Walk.

With the weather cooling down don’t forget about your sunscreen even on those overcast days. 

We hope to see you soon.

Take Care,

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Have you ever looked in the mirror and noticed dullness to your skin? Maybe it just doesn’t look as bright as it once did. Unfortunately as we get older our skin cells do not shed as quickly leaving a dull tired look to the surface of our skin. So how do we improve the appearance? Many over the counter products such as scrubs and buff puffs can offer quick solutions but may actually do more harm then good.A procedure we offer here at Florida Skin Center are superficial chemical peels to bring your skin “back to life.”

So what exactly are Chemical Peels? Sometime people here the word “chemical” and worry about scarring and looking unsightly for days and days, but rest assured our superficial peels are nothing like that. They are topically applied alpha-hydroxy acids or beta-hydroxy acids that create a uniform, controlled shedding of several layers of the dead dull skin. Once this dead skin sheds off new growth can occur, creating a fresh new vibrant appearance. There are different categorizes of peels out there some more intense then others. Since our peels are superficial, there is minimal down time. You will see slight flaking like that of a mild sun burn or flaky dry skin for a few days. A simple moisturizer can be used to help hydrate if needed.

What changes will I see in my skin? The first thing you will notice is softness. Once the rough skin has shed your skin is left feeling soft and bright. After a few treatments you will notice reduction in blotchy and uneven pigmentation, age spots, and freckling, helping your skin look a more even color and tone. They also greatly help with acne by keeping blackheads and whiteheads under control as well as acne scarring by softening their appearance. Chemical peels have such a wide rage of benefits and can be used on anyone. At Florida Skin Center we have two licenced aestheticians on staff who can tailor a chemical peel to your specific skin type and needs. If you have any questions please feel free to ask for Shanah or Danielle. To find out our latest chemical peel promotion please visit www.floridaskincenter.com

The Importance of Giving Back

The Importance of Giving Back

At Florida Skin Center, we believe in giving back to the community.  Throughout the year you will see Dr. Badia and her staff supporting local community events. Florida Skin Center has been participating in the Walk for March of Dimes, Adopt a Highway, and the Edison Festival of Lights for the past five years.  In addition, every year Dr. Badia holds a Children’s Day where she and her staff provide medical care for kids free of charge. 

Another annual event that her staff holds for the community is Grab a Gobbler.  The goal of Grab a Gobbler is to help those less fortunate during the holiday season by giving away free turkeys. We will keep you updated on this event in the upcoming holiday season.

Today we wanted to inform you of an upcoming event that is near and dear to our heart: The 2010 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.  This is a noncompetitive, inspirational event that raises awareness and funds to fight breast cancer and provide hope to all people facing this disease. The walk will be held on Saturday Oct 23^rd.  For more details please visit our website at http://floridaskincenter.com/default.asp

Current statistics show that aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. And is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women.  I am sure that we have all meet someone in our lives affected by this disease.

In honor of this great cause, Florida Skin Center is donating a percentage of all proceeds collected on Oct 5^th 2010 to the American Cancer Society. So if you are due for your annual skin check or have never had a skin check, please schedule your appointment on this day and help us give back.

Hope to see you on Oct 5^th.

Florida Skin Center

Are Barefeet a No No for You. Not Anymore

Are you embarrassed to wear open toe shoes because of your toenails?  Unfortunately you are not alone. Toe nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis is a very common condition.  Onychomycosis causes fingernails or toenails to thicken, discolor, disfigure, and split. At first, onychomycosis appears to be only a cosmetic concern. Without treatment, however, the toenails can become so thick that they press against the inside of the shoes, causing pressure, irritation, and pain.

Until now, most treatment options for this condition are topical nail lacquers and solutions that need to be applied to the nail daily.  Other treatment options are oral medications such as Lamisil.  Although these are effective treatment options, many of us do not have the time to apply a medication on our nails twice a day or are hesitant to go on medications that could potentially affect the liver.

However there is an alternative treatment : Laser therapy.  Although, laser therapy has been used in dermatology for other conditions, it is a new treatment option for toenail/finger nail fungus.  Treatments are quick easy and best of all painless.

The affected nails are treated with the laser until the nail starts to feel warm.  This takes just a few seconds.  With each treatment, the laser destroys the fungus infecting the nails.  Generally 3 treatments are needed and are done 1 month apart. 

If you have any further questions about this safe effective treatment for onychomycosis please ask our staff or providers.

We hope to see you soon.

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Your Skin For Life

Electronic Medical Records

There has been a lot of talk in recent months about physician offices going “electronic”, but what does that mean exactly?   An Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a secured electronic file of patient history, medical transcription notes, billing information, and all other information necessary to have a complete patient profile.  EMR systems are becoming the way of the future and its benefits are numerous.

Florida Skin Center has been a “paperless”, office since spring of 2005.   Although Dr. Badia recalls the transition from paper charts to electronic charts as a slow process, she would never go back to the old way of doing things.  Dr. Badia believes that having electronic medical records not only saves time and energy, but most importantly benefits her patients as well.  Patients of Florida Skin Center can rest assured that all of their current and past medical history is up to date. Current medication lists can easily be updated and pop up alerts made for allergies. Lab results are directly imported into each patient’s chart which reduces the risk of medical errors with filing and reduces wait time for patients, because they are not waiting for someone to find their results.  Patients can call with questions over the phone and get their questions answered right away.  They do not have to wait for a staff member to “find” their chart. 

Our patients are extremely happy as well. Each patient that is prescribed a medication goes home with an information sheet and directions on how to use the medication that are easy to interpret. Another feature of electronic medical records is patient prescriptions can be sent electronically to a pharmacy that the patient chooses. We know patients have busy schedules and appreciate the time they are saved having a prescription ready to pick up at the pharmacy. Lastly, patients can be assured that their medical information is secure. All EMR systems require unique user names that are password protected to access any patient information.

We hope this gives you a little insight into the benefits of having a physician’s office using electronic medical records.

Hope to see you soon.

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Your Skin for Life.

Our Team

We hope everyone is having a great week.  We wanted to blog about the type of providers you will find at Florida Skin Center. Our last blog was about physicians assistants. This week we wanted to talk to you about Aestheticians.

Aestheticians are licensed skin care specialists. In the state of Florida, aestheticians are required to complete 260 hours of training to receive their licenses.   They must also renew their license every three years by taking a recertification test. In addition, our aestheticians, at Florida Skin Center, receive training with Dr.Badia as a medical assistant first so they have a deeper understanding of various skin diseases and treatment medications.

We currently have two aestheticians, Danielle and Shanah, on staff. At FSC, we provide a variety of aesthetic treatments including facials, chemical peels, and extractions as well as various product lines and makeup for even those with the most sensitive of skin.  Our aestheticians are trained in tailoring a treatment regimen to suit the needs of your skin. To find out more about our aestheticians, please visit this link

http://floridaskincenter.com/meetourproviders.asp.

We hope to see you soon.

Have a great week.

Take Care,

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Our Providers

Happy Monday Everyone. We want to wish all our students good luck with the new school year.

This week we wanted to blog about the types of providers you will see at Florida Skin Center.   The first type of provider we wanted to talk about are Physician Assistants. PAs are health care providers that are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a physician. Working as members of a healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, and make diagnoses. They also treat minor injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting. Physician assistants also may prescribe certain medications.

All states require PA’s to pass the Physician Assistant’s National Certifying Examination every six years and require 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years in the specialty they practice.

Our PA, Shirisha, has been practicing with Dr. Badia since 2004.  Shirisha examines and diagnoses patients as well as prescribe treatment medications.  She also performs surgeries and laser treatments.  To find out more about Shirisha and the other providers at Florida Skin center please click here http://floridaskincenter.com/meetourproviders.asp.

We hope everyone has a great week.

Sincerely,

Florida Skin Center

Your Skin For Life.

Getting Your Skin Ready for Back to School

Hello everyone.  With summer winding down and everyone getting ready for back to school, a common concern for our patients is acne. With so many over the counter acne products available to patients, it can often becoming confusing on what products to try and when to decide it is time to see a dermatologist.

At Florida Skin Center, we understand that everyone’s acne problems are unique to them. What might work for one person may not work for another.  Dr. Badia and her providers use a variety of prescription medications, facials/chemical peels, lasers and products to tailor a treatment plan for your type of acne.

A common type of medication used to treat acne is retinoids.  Retinoids are derivatives of vitamin A that work to reduce oil production and open up pores.  Another concern, we hear from patients are the scars and discoloration that acne can leave behind.  A variety of treatments can be used to treat this including topical medications such as azelaic acid or slightly more aggressive treatments like superficial chemical peels and lasers.

For severe acne or persistent acne, Dr. Badia uses more aggressive medical treatments such as isotretinoin.  In fact, Dr. Badia is one of the only dermatologists in the area to prescribe this type of medication for her patients.  Please click on the link below to see our acne success stories: http://floridaskincenter.com/beforeafter.asp#acneTreatment

Until next time, we hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.

Sincerely,

Florida Skin Center

Your Skin For Life

New Innovative Hair Loss Treatment

We hope everyone had a great weekend. 


A common complaint, we hear from patients is a concern with hair loss. Until recently there were not a lot of treatment options available for these patients.  They often included solutions, pills and surgery.  Fortunately, these are no longer the only options available to patients with hair loss.  PRP is the newest treatment procedure for hair regrowth and maintenance and we are proud to say that FSC is one of the only dermatology offices in the area to offer this treatment for our patients.

Plasma Rich Platelets or PRP is a relatively simple procedure that can be done in less than 30 minutes. A small amount of blood is drawn from the patient.  It is then centrifuged for 15 minutes.  This produces the PRP. Once centrifuged, the PRP taken from the blood is then injected and spread with a dermaroller into the scalp or areas of hair loss. The dermaroller creates microscopic channels that allow the PRP to penetrate deep into the skin into the hair follicles. Prior to injecting the PRP, the scalp is cleansed and numbed with lidocaine injections.  Patients are able to resume normal activities after this procedure. Since this treatment uses our own blood, it is extremely safe. Side effects are minimal and include mild tenderness and swelling around the scalp that generally subsides within 48 hours.

This revolutionary treatment works best for patients with hair loss due to genetic factors such as female and male pattern baldness. It also works great for women who are experiencing post partum hair loss and used in combination with those patients planning to have surgical hair restoration treatment. 

Generally treatments are recommended every 4-6 months for the first year.  After that, maintenance treatments maybe required yearly. To receive the optimal benefits from this treatment we recommend using it in conjunction with the low level laser for hair restoration.

Although there is scientific evidence to support that PRP treatments are beneficial in hair restoration, hair restoration using PRP is still in its infancy. It is a fairly new treatment and results could vary based on each individual. However, its low cost and minimal side effects make it a promising treatment option for patients with hair loss.

If you would like a first hand look at this procedure please come to our workshop this Saturday. Follow this link for more details: http://floridaskincenter.com/

We hope you have a great week.

Until next time,

Florida Skin Center

Best Makeup for your Skin

We hope the week has been treating everyone well.  To continue with our theme of cosmetic dermatology this week, we wanted to talk to you about makeup. Often times, Dr. Badia is asked for recommendations on what type of makeup is best to use.

In general, Dr. Badia always recommends to use make up that is noncomedogenic.  What does that mean exactly? Noncomedogenic is a term applied to oils, lotions, makeup and skin creams that do not block pores. The theory behind using makeup that is noncomedogenic is that by not blocking pores, they will reduce the incidence of breakouts.

Specifically the line of makeup products Dr. Badia recommends the most is the Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup line.  The benefit of using Jane Iredale makeup is that all of their products contain an SPF of 30. This is great for us that live in Florida were sunscreen is a must.  In fact, it is the only skin care line that is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. 

You might ask yourself, what makes this makeup different then the makeup you could purchase at the makeup counters in the mall.  Well, the Jane Iredale mineral bases are concentrated pigment.  They use no fillers such as talc. Because of this concentrated pigment, a minimum amount gives excellent coverage and becomes a foundation, powder and concealer all in one.  This concentrated pigment also gives high sunscreen protection without the need for synthetic ingredients.

This skin care line is great for all skin types, even those of us with sensitive skin. Jane Iredale makeup does not contain any chemical preservatives, chemical dyes, perfume or alcohol so it is great for even the most sensitive of skin.

If you are looking to try a great skin care line, please feel free to contact us for a consultation with one of our staff.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Common Botox Myths

Happy Monday :)  We hope everyone had a great weekend.  This week we wanted to talk about the fun side to dermatology: the cosmetic side.  How many of us have been envious of movie actresses and even actors walking the red carpet with flawless skin? If you have you are not alone.

A common affordable cosmetic procedure that these actresses and actors may have had is Botox® Cosmetic treatments.    Botox® Cosmetic is a purified protein produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, which reduces the activity of the muscles that cause frown lines.  There are many myths surrounding Botox® treatments. Often times, people believe that they will have a fake frozen look that makes them look unnatural. Others believe these treatments could be dangerous and costly.  However, if these treatments are done by an experience licenesed provider, the outcome can be a very natural look. Who says that you can't age gracefully.

Dr. Badia has had over 10 years of experience injecting Botox ® cosmetic and is one of the most experienced injectors in the area. You can see our results for yourself on our before and after page at http://www.floridaskincenter.com/beforeafter.asp

Below are a few common myths surrounding Botox®.


My facial expressions will not be natural.
Although you will see marked improvement in your frown lines within 1-2 weeks,  Botox® Cosmetic will not radically change your facial appearance. You can still frown or look surprised.

      
Botox®treatment only lasts a few weeks.
Results from treatment with Botox® Cosmetic can last for up to 4 months. If you discontinue treatment, the frown lines treated gradually will look like they did before treatment.

      
Botox®treatment is painful and has a lot of side effects.
Discomfort is usually minimal and brief. Prior to injecting, we  will numb the area with an anesthetic cream. The entire procedure takes approximately 10 minutes. Many people are in and out of the office without  downtime following  treatment.  The most common side effect of treatment is bruising and minimal swelling.

We hope to see you soon.

Until next time always remember your sunscreen.
Florida Skin Center

Welcome

Welcome everyone to the official Florida Skin Center Blog.  We wanted to start off telling you a little about ourselves. We are a full service general and cosmetic dermatology office located in beautiful southwest Florida. Dr. Badia opened Florida Skin Center in July 2001, just after completing her dermatology training in Albany, New York. Since then, she has developed the practice to be a full service facility that now includes her physician assistant, Shirisha, two aestheticians Danielle and Shanah and a great management staff.   Dr. Badia is a pediatrician, in addition to being a dermatologist; therefore she is well versed in treating patients of all ages.  In fact, Florida Skin Center is the only dermatology office in the area that treats children in addition to adults.

The goal of Florida Skin Center is to treat our patients with respect and to offer our patients comprehensive dermatology care.  All skin exams are done using demoscopy. We offer Mohs, cosmetic fillers, Botox, chemical peels/facials, hair restoration therapy, vitiligo, acne and psoriasis treatment including lightbox and laser therapy.  These are just a few of the services we offer our patients.  To see more of our services please feel free to visit us at www.floridaskincenter.com.  We also offer an array of cosmetic products and Jane Iredale makeup.

Living in Florida, we know you can’t hide from the sun. So it’s always a good idea to get you and your loved ones' skin checked annually. We hope to see you soon. 

If you have any questions about dermatology conditions or procedures please feel free to let us know.

Until next time be safe in the sun.

Take Care,

Florida Skin Center

Your Skin for Life.