Peeling from your Retinol?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you feel like it is normal to peel from your retinol?  Are you only able to use your retinol a few times a week due to irritation?  Your are not alone!  However, there is an easy solution to this problem.  Florida Skin Center offers a retinol from SkinMedica that can eliminate both of these problems.  SkinMedica’s Retinol complex is specially formulated to avoid the common side effects of other retinols while still maintaining the same efficacy as tretinoin. 

 

Retinols typically cause irritation because they must pass through the top layer of the skin, the epidermis, on the way to the dermis.  It is in the epidermal layer of the skin that retinols produce irritation and peeling, the common side effects people note.  However, SkinMedica’s retinol is specially encapsulated to melt on the skin and go straight to the dermis layer of the skin, bypassing the epidermis.  Because the product skips the epidermis, the side effects and irritation are greatly reduced.  Head to head tests of SkinMedica’s Retinol Complex against tretinon .05% and tretinoin 0.1% have shown the SAME efficacy but significantly decreased irritation and side effects.

 

If you have accepted peeling and irritation as par for the course from your retinol, call FSC to learn about the products we have available. 

 

Laser Hair Removal Treatment Myths

With summer just around the corner, you may have seen advertisements and local groupons spring up for Laser Hair Removal treatments.  Is this something you have considered doing?  Worried about pain of treatments or the cost?  Are you even a good candidate?  Are all laser hair removal places equal? Below are some common laser hair removal myths to help answer your questions.

Myth: Laser hair removal is a permanent method to rid you of hair.

Truth: Don’t fall for the trap. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as permanent hair removal.  Laser treatments will cause permanent delayed hair growth.  Hairs will take a lot longer to come in and will be less coarse and finer.  It also helps reduce irritation and discoloration from shaving.

Myth: A spa or nail salon can perform laser hair removal as well as a medical facility.

Truth: Not all lasers are created equal and if done improperly could cause scaring.  Laser hair removal requires a highly trained and experienced practitioner such as a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

Myth: Laser hair removal is painful.

Truth: Most people describe the laser as hot rubber band snaps.  A topical anesthetic can be used for areas no larger than the face to minimize discomfort.  Most people are able to go back to work immediately after treatments.

Myth: All types of hair colors can be removed with lasers.

Truth:  Dark, red and brown hair can be treated very effectively with laser treatments. Unfortunately, blond or grey hair cannot be treated.

Myth: Laser hair removal costs a lot.

Truth:   While laser hair removal may seem a bit more expensive initially, it can be a more cost-effective method than electrolysis, waxing, or shaving after you add up the cost of supplies over a span of time. Laser hair removal can fit with any budget. Here at FSC, we offer packages and promos on these treatments. 

Myth: Laser hair removal can be performed on people with darker skin types.

Truth: Yes, but not all lasers are created equal.  For those of you with ethnic skin, you want to be sure that your practitioner has had experience in treating darker skin types.  If the wrong type of laser is used it can cause permanent scaring.  Lasers that are generally safe for ethnic skin are the NdYag lasers.  Here at FSC, we have lasers specific for lighter skin types as well as dark.

CVS and Tobacco Products

CVS Caremark recently announced a decision to stop selling all tobacco products.  This is a bold decision by the company.  Tobacco usage still remains a major health concern for the US.  Tobacco affects the body, including the skin, in many deleterious ways.  Cigarette smoking causes an estimated 443,000 deaths every year, and lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer death in men and women.  Smoking also affects most organ systems, resulting in multiple types of cancers and heart disease.  Smoking also negatively alters the skin, resulting in premature wrinkling and decreased wound healing.  With all of this evidence, the rate of decline in smoking has still stagnated over the last decade.  CVS has vowed to increase smoking cessation programs.  If you smoke or know someone who smokes, it is never too late to quit.  Your primary care provider can discuss the many modalities available to aid in the quitting process.  

 

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/06/business/cvs-plans-to-end-sales-of-tobacco-products-by-october.html?_r=0

Need Mohs?

Recently, there has been a lot of debate about the need and cost of Mohs surgery for skin cancers. What is Mohs Surgery?  How is it preformed?  What are the costs?  These are all questions we are hoping to answer in today’s blog topic Need Mohs.

Mohs micrographic surgery was first developed in 1930s and is the most effective treatment for most types of skin cancers. With Mohs technique, physicians can precisely identify and remove an entire skin cancer while leaving surrounding healthy tissue intact, in turn, minimizing scarring.

The Mohs procedure involves surgically removing skin cancer layer by layer and examining the tissue under a microscope until there are clear margins (cancer free tissue). The physicians preforming Mohs procedures are trained in reviewing pathology and will read your tissue slides on site.  When performed by a trained physician, Mohs surgery has a success rate of 99%.

What are some advantages of Mohs Surgery? The high success rate eliminates the risk of the cancer growing back.  Mohs surgery also minimizes scarring around the cancer site, while maximizing the functional and cosmetic outcome.

The risking costs of Mohs procedures have also been a concern in the last few years.  Various studies have been conducted comparing the cost of Mohs procedures with standard excisions and radiation therapy. Studies done by Journal Watch Dermatology and the AAD show that Mohs surgery is no more costly than other traditional procedures. Since Mohs surgery minimizes the risk of re occurrence of skin cancer as well as reduces risk of scarring, it remains the gold standard for treating skin cancers.

Congratulations Shirisha and Brandie

 

Florida Skin Center is proud to announce that Shirisha and Brandie, the physician assistants with Dr. Badia, have been awarded the prestigious “Diplomate” status through the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants. This award is the highest honor that can be received in the dermatology physician assistant field. In order to obtain this status, a PA must have extensive experience in dermatology and complete over 150 rigorous cases and examinations in dermatology. Currently, fewer than 20 physician assistants in the state of Florida hold this designation. This training will allow our PAs to continue to provide the highest quality of care to our patients, as they stay at the forefront of dermatology.

Seeing Red: Do You Suffer from Rosacea

Does your face get red and flushed easily?  Do you get asked often where you out in the sun too long?  Do you wake up red?  Do you get breakouts around your cheeks and nose? Do your eyes feel gritty or red? If you answered yes to one or more of the questions above you may suffer from a chronic skin infection called Rosacea. And you are not alone.  Rosacea affects over 15 million people in the US.  Some famous faces suffering with Rosacea are Bill Clinton and Cynthia Nixon.

 

Rosacea is an inflammatory skin infection that causes redness and flushing on the nose and cheeks.  If severe, some patients can even get acne around their nose as well as dry gritty eyes.  The exact cause of rosacea is unknown, but there are many triggers that can cause rosacea to flare.  One step in combating rosacea is identifying potential triggers.  Common rosacea triggers include

·         Alcohol

·         Warm and humid weather

·         Exercising

·         Spicy foods,

·         Hot beverages

·         Stress,

·         Medications

·         Heat and sun exposure

Although there is no cure for rosacea, treatments have come a long way to help maintain and improve symptoms. Minimizing potential triggers is the key to successful treatment.  Wear a hat to protect your face from the sun, and keep it cool. Avoid outdoor work and exercise in hot and humid weather.   Ventilate the kitchen when you cook.  Exercise when and where it is cool (early morning, evening, or in an air-conditioned gym).  Avoid alcoholic beverages and hot beverages if you know this causes a flare. 

There are also many prescription medications and treatments that can be done to help treat and manage your rosacea.  There are very effective prescription medications that can be prescribed by your dermatology provider.  Laser treatments are also very effective in treating broken blood vessels caused by rosacea.  You don’t have to suffer any longer. If you think you are suffer from rosacea please talk to your dermatology health care provider.

Shingles and Stroke Risk

 

An interesting new study demonstrated a link between the shingles virus and stroke risk.  Shingles is a painful rash that can develop from the varicella zoster virus (VZV).  VZV is the same virus that causes chicken pox in children.  Following infection with chicken pox as a child, the varicella virus lies dormant in the nerve roots.  The virus can then become reactivated later in life and result in a painful rash on one side of the body.  This rash occurs most often in older patients but can occur in patients of any age, especially following periods of stress.

 

A recent study found people who developed shingles between the ages of 18 and 40 were more likely to have a stroke, warning stroke, or heart attack in their lifetime.  Researchers also found an increased incidence of stroke in people who developed shingles after forty years old, but the risk was not as great in this age bracket.

 

Scientists have investigated a link between shingles and stroke previously.  Researchers are uncertain the exact mechanism resulting in the increased risk, but believe it is a result of the shingles’ virus inflammatory effects on the circulatory system. 

 

What does this study mean for you?  If you are over 60 years old and have not been vaccinated for shingles, consult with your primary care provider about receiving this vaccine.  Preventing shingles is the number one goal.  However, if you have already developed shingles, it is important to be aware of this risk, and take effort to speak with your healthcare provider about modifying other habits that can increase your stroke risk.  Smoking, high cholesterol, and obesity are all modifiable risk factors that can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.  Making changes in these areas are vital to improving your cardiovascular health and decreasing your stroke risk.  Make sure you speak with your health care provider before making any changes in diet or exercise, and, of course, consult your skin care provider at the onset of any new rashes.