Why does our Skin Wrinkle in Water?

Ever wonder why your skin wrinkles when in water?  Dr. Badia has the answer.

Our skin naturally wrinkles as we get older, but age has nothing to do with it. There's a scientific reason why part of our skin wrinkles when in water.  


Doctor Aurora Badia knows. The dermatologist and owner of Florida Skin Center said the reason our skin wrinkles in water is because of dead keratin cells. "It absorbs water more than the live keratin, and that's when you see that swelling," Badia said.  Keratin cells keep our skin moist. It's also the key component in our hair and nails. She explained that we have a dead layer of skin cells covering our bodies. There's good reason why we only see the swelling on our hands and feet. "There's more keratin in the hands and feet because that skin is actually thicker because we use our hands and feet more," Badia said.

Tattoos Masking Skin Cancer

 

 

Could your tattoo be hiding a skin cancer or problem mole? While many studies have shown no links between tattoo ink and the development of skin cancer, tattoos can present a different problem. 

 

Tattoos can mask problem moles or skin cancers, making evaluation by your skin care provider more difficult. If possible, it is best not to have tattoos over existing moles or lesions on the skin. If these spots were to change over time, the changes could be masked by the tattoo pigment. If you already have a tattoo over a mole, make sure your dermatologist is carefully evaluating these areas for any change. The tattoo pigment can alter the appearance of the mole, making it appear more or less dangerous than it actually is. Also, if you are considering have a tattoo removed, make sure your provider examines the skin underneath the tattoo, as the laser used for tattoo removal could also mask changes in an underlying mole. 

 

At Florida Skin Center, we use dermatoscopes, a special light, to carefully evaluate all moles within a tattoo to evaluate for change. Routine skin checks are vital in the early recognition and treatment of skin cancer in tattooed, as well as non-tattooed, skin.

How does Health Insurance Work?

Are you often confused by how insurance works?  Well you’re not alone, most of us are!  It can be a very complicated process and here at Florida Skin Center, our billing department strives to make this process as easy as possible.  Anytime you present us with new insurance information, our billing department will verify your benefits your insurance company and inform you of your benefits.  Before your visit, you will be able to know what your specialist copayment, deductible, and co-insurance are.  Have questions on this information?  Our billing department is available to meet with you to discuss these benefits more in detail.  We don’t outsource our billing like most medical offices, so we are always available!  Our goal is that there are no surprises with the billing process.

Once your visit is complete, we will bill your insurance carrier the next business day.  It can take up to 30 days to hear back from your carrier.  At that point your insurance has determined what your financial responsibility is.  We will send you a statement the same day that we receive your insurance benefits.  Have questions on your statement?  Our billing department is ready to assist you as needed, we only ask for your patience and understanding.  We know that financials are a sensitive issue and we will do everything in our power to make this process easier for you.  We offer Care Credit, Online Bill Pay, and Payment Plans.  We can also help contact the insurance carrier on your behalf if your claim was processed incorrectly.  If your insurance carrier insists on speaking with you directly, we can coach and guide you through this process.

Our billing department is the heart of our company, they work day in and day out to ensure you don’t have to stress about this complicated process.  Have more questions, you can contact the billing department directly at 239-561-3898.

Smoking and Your Skin

We all seek to do everything we can to maintain our overall health as well as our healthy, young appearance.  From sunscreen to routine skin checks to a good skin care regimen, we work hard on a daily basis to improve and maintain the health of our skin.  Did you know that smoking can undo all your hard work?  A recent study of twins showed that twins who smoke appear older compared with their non smoking counterpart.  At a recent gathering of twins, smoking and non-smoking twins were photographed, and the photos were analyzed by physicians and a medical student.  The majority of the time, the panel judged the smoking twin as older!  Smoking can cause the skin around your lips, eyes, and mouth to wrinkle and look older faster.  Not to mention the other hazards to your health and the health of those around you posed by smoking.  The next time you reach for a cigarette think not only of your lungs but of your skin!  See the link below for the pictures comparing the smoking and non-smoking twins.

 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/31/health/smoking-aging-identical-twins/index.html?hpt=he_bn1