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