National PA Week is Here.

Did you know? The week of October 6 is National PA week! We have three Physician Assistants here at Florida Skin Center. They are Shirisha, Brooke and Gail. They have all undergone extensive graduate-level training to be able to take medical histories, do physical exams and make diagnoses. They order or perform tests to get more information and then make a treatment plan.
Our PAs have passed rigorous board certification exams and are required to obtain continuing medical education credits to stay current. When needed they will consult with their supervising physicians as they work as a member of our team to provide the best care possible for the patients they see.

Read more about our PAs >

What is this scaly rash? It could be Seborrheic Dermatitis

Seborrheic dermatitis is a common condition that can cause scaling, itching, and even burning in areas where the body has an abundance of oil glands. The most common areas affected are the scalp, face, and trunk. On the scalp it is commonly referred to as dandruff in adults, and cradle cap in infants. The condition is one that can get better and worse, and tends to flare up in the winter and early spring. Although a nuisance, seborrheic dermatitis can usually be controlled with topical medications.

Making a Difference in the Community

At Florida Skin Center, we are always looking for ways to give back to the community and bring health awareness to Southwest Florida. We have been great supporters of the March of Dimes and Making Strides against Breast Cancer.  This year we decided to get involved with an organization called JDRF. JDRF is the leading global organization focused on type 1 diabetes (T1D) research.

Did you know…

• Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes (8.3% of the population).
• Diabetes currently affects more than 371 million people worldwide and is expected to affect 552 million by 2030.3
• Type 1 diabetes accounts for $14.9 billion in healthcare costs in the U.S. each year, while all types of diabetes combine to account for $245 billion in annual costs.
• In the U.S., a new case of diabetes is diagnosed every 30 seconds; more than 1.9 million people are diagnosed each year.

Every 30 seconds...that’s huge.

What can you do to get involved?  Join us on Nov 8th at 9am at the Belltower shops for the annual JDRF walk.  We will be the lovely ladies in teal.  To find out more about Type 1 Diabetes visit: www.jdrf.org.

(Statistics taken from www.jdrf.org)

What is the difference in having a cosmetic procedure at a Medical Spa vs. Dermatologist office?

Medical spas are an up and coming industry. What makes them different from a normal day spa is that there is a medical doctor on staff. This allows medical spas to offer more complex treatments such a laser, Botox, filler, chemical peels and other lucrative cosmetic procedures. This can sometimes be a problem when a physician is not performing the procedures, or delegating the treatments to staff members that have not had proper medical training. These staff may be trained on how to do the procedure, but are likely unable to evaluate skin conditions or make sure the patient is a good candidate for the specific procedure. This unfortunately can lead to adverse outcomes that may not be properly diagnosed or treated at a medical spa.

It is important to know that the person that is performing any cosmetic procedure on you has had proper medical training, and specifically in dermatology is even better. At Florida Skin Center you have the peace of mind in knowing that any provider who performs your procedure, whether it is Dr. Badia, one of her physician assistants, or her aesthetician: You are being treated by a professional that specializes in skin and can recommend what is best for you based on your concerns and skin type.

Laser Treatments Offered at Florida Skin Center

Here at Florida Skin Center we have 5 different types of laser in use that allow us to treat a wide variety of conditions.

• Acne- Helps to reduce number of current lesions, and prevent future breakout. A series of 5-6 treatments scheduled 1-2 weeks apart are needed for best results. Maintenance treatment may be needed.
• Hair removal- At Florida Skin Center we have 2 different lasers for hair removal to serve skin tones of all color. These treatments are scheduled 4 weeks apart.
• Telangiectasia’s (or red veins on the face)-Helps to reduce the amount of veins and overall redness of the face or area being treated. 1-3 treatments are generally recommended 4 weeks apart.
• Scars- Helps to reduce the redness of scar, and can help to reduce the bumpiness if scar is hypertrophic or thickened. 1-3 treatments are usually recommend about 4 weeks apart.
• Tattoo- Causes tattoo pigment to break up into smaller particles that the body’s immune system can remove. Number of treatments can vary, but on average a person will need 9-11 treatments, spaced 1-3 months apart.
• Warts- Uses heat to help destroy wart. Treatments are scheduled 3 weeks apart.
• Nail Fungus- Uses heat to help kill fungus. An average of 3 treatments are required, and are spaced 1 week apart.
• Vascular Birthmarks- A variety of vascular birthmarks can be treated by laser. Number of treatments will depend on size of lesion as well as other factors. Treatments are recommended every 4 weeks.
• Excimer- Uses narrowband UVB to help treat a variety of conditions including vitiligo, eczema, and psoriasis. Number of treatments will depend on the condition being treated. To start, treatments are usually scheduled 1-3 times a week.

See Your Skin in a Whole New Light

Check out this video called This is Your Skin on Sun.  It’s amazing to see how much underlying sun damage we have and how effective sunscreen really is.

Want to see what your skin really looks like?  Sign up for our Reveal Yourself Event.  Click the image below for full event details; if you would like more information visit us at floridaskincenter.com/reveal or give us a call (239-561-3376).

Hidden Risks of Indoor Tanning

Some mistakenly believe that indoor tanning is safer than the UV rays generated by the sun. This is a myth, and indoor tanning places a person at a substantial risk of developing a skin cancer. Tanning booths use both UVA and UVB rays. Both UVA and UVB rays damage skin cells by mutating genes that may possibly lead to a skin cancer. UVA rays are also responsible for skin aging and causes wrinkles and volume loss. UVB rays are responsible for causing sunburns. Indoor tanning increases a person’s risk of developing a melanoma when used before the age of 35. The risk increases by 1.8% with each additional visit to an indoor tanning booth.