New Year's Healthy Skin Resolutions

Your skin is the largest organ of your body - don't forget to take care of it like you would for your other vital organs! Here are some New Year's Healthy Skin resolutions we should all be sticking to:

1. Wear sunscreen daily on all sun-exposed skin!
It doesn't matter if you are going outside for 10 minutes or 4 hours - make sure your skin is protected with a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays, with a SPF of at least 30. Excess infrared rays (from heat) have also been shown to be harmful to the skin. Reapply every 1-2 hours. The most important reason to wear sunscreen is to protect against skin cancer. Secondarily, the sun ages our skin greatly, no matter what skin type and skin color. Excess sun exposure leads to dull skin, bad texture, fine lines, broken blood vessels, and brown spots. We recommend Colorescience Sunforgettable and Skin Medica Total Defense + Repair. 

2. Moisturize daily.
Even if you don't think you need a moisturizer, or have oily skin. Moisturized skin looks better and is healthier. If you are eczema-prone, moisturizing is even more important, to maintain that healthy skin barrier and to help soothe. If your skin tends to be oily, and you apply products to dry it out, you can have a rebound effect where the body produces more oil to compensate. We recommend Skin Medica Rejuvenative Moisturizer, Skin Medica Ultra Sheer Moisturizer, and Skin Medica HA5.

3. Have your specific skin problems evaluated by a dermatologist.
If you're having flares of acne, eczema, dandruff, rosacea,etc, be evaluated by a dermatologist. Many common skin problems are easily treated once you are using the correct medications. Self-treatment sometimes leads to worsening of your skin condition! 

Florida Skin Center wishes everyone a happy and healthy 2017!

When should my child see a dermatologist?

When should my child be seen for a full body skin exam?

There is no hard and fast rule for this question. At Florida Skin Center, we recommend routine skin exams (at least yearly) regularly for everyone, including pediatric patients! Monthly skin exams at home should be performed as well. While melanoma is less common in children than in adults, that does not mean it does not occur. The incidence of melanoma in children 11-19 years of age has increased almost 3% per year from 1973-2001. Melanoma accounts for approximately 7% of all cancers diagnosed in individuals 15-19 years of age, and accounts for up to 3% of all pediatric cancers. The treatment of childhood melanoma is often delayed due to misdiagnosis, which happens up to 40% of the time. If you or your pediatrician notices a questionable mole on your child, have a dermatologist examine the mole - we have special tools that help us determine if a mole is suspicious and warrants testing. Even if a mole does not warrant testing at the time of the exam, close followup is recommended, to monitor for changes.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, but it is the most preventable. Most skin cancers form due to excess sun exposure when we were young. Genetics plays a role as well. Remember to minimize sun exposure and wear daily sunscreen of at least SPF 30.

When should my child's skin condition be evaluated by a dermatologist?

Most pediatricians recognize common skin conditions, such as eczema, seborrhea, exanthems (rashes caused by viral infections), and can initiate treatment for your child. However, if the skin condition is not improving or resolving, most pediatricians will refer out to a dermatologist. A skin biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to better tailor the treatment. If the skin condition is something not commonly seen, most pediatricians will refer out to a dermatologist as well. When in doubt, have a specialist look at it!

What are milia?

Milia (singular: milium) are tiny cysts containing keratin. They appear as pearly-white bumps at the surface of the skin. These harmless growths affect both males and females, and affect all ages, from babies to adults. Milia occur commonly around the eyes and cheeks, but can appear elsewhere. These lesions do not need to be treated. Some spontaneously resolve in a few months. If treatment is desired, the milium can be treated with electrocautery or cryotherapy. Other treatment options include deroofing the lesion and squeezing out the contents, and also employing a topical retinoid. Chemical peels can also be used for widespread milia. Ask your Florida Skin Center provider what choice is best for you.

Laser Treatment for Brown Spots

Do you have brown spots on your hands, face, or chest that are unsightly? Are you tired of applying creams to help fade them? If so, laser treatment may be an option.

At Florida Skin Center, we offer the VBeam laser, which can be used to treat brown spots. The laser targets the melanin in the brown spot without damaging surrounding skin, making this one of the safest and most effective ways to eradicate brown spots. There is minimal to no downtime with this laser. The brown spots will likely become darker and may possibly bruise and/or peel after the treatment. We recommend 1-2 treatments spaced 1 month apart in most cases.

This patient above saw good results with just one treatment with the VBeam laser.

We offer this laser treatment at all 3 of our office locations. Please call our office at 239-561-3376 to schedule an appointment. Ask your provider if you are a good candidate for this treatment.