Light is something that is part of everyone’s lives, but not many people know the many benefits that it has besides helping us see things in the dark. In fact, light can have several benefits in the field of dermatology and cosmetics. An example of it is the Photodynamic Therapy.

The Photodynamic Therapy, also known as PTD or Blue Light Therapy, is a non-invasive therapy that uses photosensitizing molecules in combination with a light source that activates them. The combination of the light and the molecules destroy abnormal cells, leaving the healthy cells intact. This type of therapy is used to treat several conditions such as sun damage, acne, scars, rosacea and even pre-skin cancer lesions. But this treatment is not indicated to everyone. Although it can be used to treat pre-cancer lesions, PTD does not offer a cure for invasive skin cancer. In this case, more severe treatments are needed, such as radiotherapy or even surgery. The PTD is also not indicated to deep areas in the skin since it is more effective in lesions right below the surface of the skin.

A PTD session is a quite simple process. First, a solution of a photosensitizing agent is applied to the area that will be treated. After 30 to 60 minutes, which is called “incubation period”, the same area is submitted to intense light. The whole process takes about one hour. Usually, the patient will need more than one session to complete the treatment. At the end of the treatment, you should expect a smoother and healthier looking skin.

This therapy is a safe procedure, but all procedures have possible side effects. In the case of PTD, some possible side effects are burning, skin discoloration, pain, allergic reactions, prolonged sun sensitivity and others. Although some skin irritation can occur, PTD doesn’t normally leave scars.

The PTD recovery is quite straightforward and usually doesn’t present many complications. Physicians advise cleaning the area carefully to avoid infections, and they might even recommend antibiotic ointments and moisturizers. In case of swelling in the first days, ice can be used to relieve it. One of the most important measures to be taken is to protect the area with sunscreen.

So if you have any of the following skin conditions such as sun damage, acne, scars, rosacea and even pre-skin cancer lesions, PTD may be able to reduce or eliminate them. Contact our office today to learn more!

Melanoma is the most aggressive type of skin cancer and can be deadly if not caught early.  Early detection and treatment reduces the chances skin cancer developing into Melanoma. Here are some helpful guidelines set by the American Cancer Society that can help in the early detection of skin cancer. These are called the “ABCDE’s of Melanoma” and each letter stands for an aspect of a mole, sore or spot that should be observed:

A = Asymmetry. Does it have an irregular shape?

B = Borders. Melanomas usually have irregular borders that are not so easy to define.

C = Color. Melanoma lesions usually have more than one color, in an uneven distribution.

D = Diameter. Cancerous lesions are mostly larger than 6mm in diameter.

E = Evolution. This is the most important feature to pay attention to: is the mole changing in size, shape or color?

Although the early detection is very important, the prevention is even more. In the case of melanoma, the sunlight exposure is one of the strongest risk factors. It’s important to protect from UV rays every day, and not only on sunny days. It’s important to know that even when it’s cloudy, the UV rays are able to reach the skin and cause damage. Although sun exposure is essential for the health, the timing of exposure is also important. You should avoid the sun during the hours when the UV rays exposure is higher which are from 10 am to 4 pm (and midday is usually the highest point).

Some important daily measures to reduce the exposure to UV light are:

• Stay in shade
• Wear clothes that cover arms and legs, and also a hat.
• Wear sunglasses that protect from UVA and UVB rays
• Avoid indoor tanning booths
• Use a sunscreen that protects from both UVA and UVB rays, with at least SPF 15 every time you expose yourself to the sunlight.

Although these measures should be taken by anyone, they are essential for people who are more likely to get develop skin cancer such as people with light skin, history of cancer in the family and/or history of sunburns.

We recommend annual skin exams to help keep your skin looking its best, contact our office today to schedule yours!

Then there are several types of vein treatments available to help! Veins are the blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Because most of them carry the blood against the gravity, they have valves that help to move the blood always forward and not allowing it to return. When the valves are not working properly, and together with other factors the blood may go back and accumulate in the vein, increasing the pressure in it and causing the walls to bulge, and this creates the spider veins. Examples of factors that can help in developing spider veins are hormones, genetics, lack of exercise, sunlight, weight changes, injuries…

In mild cases, the spider veins are not much of a health issue because they don’t cause any diseases or discomfort. However, depending on the number of spider veins and what is causing them, they can become a serious issue. Spider veins can cause pain, increase the chances of creating blood clots and, in some cases, open sores can also appear as a consequence.

Whether spider veins are bothering you for a cosmetic reason or for a health reason, rest assured that there are ways of getting rid of them. Depending on the amount and how serious is your case, the dermatologist can suggest different types of treatment, and there are two that are the most frequent:

1. Sclerotherapy

In this treatment, the doctor injects in the spider veins a solution that will make the close so that the blood will be forced to go through a healthy vein. The spider veins in question will then fade in a few weeks.

2. Laser Treatment

In this case, the doctor directs bursts of a strong light to make the veins fade.

In both treatments, there is no need for anesthesia or incisions. It is very likely that you will need at least 3 sessions and larger veins are more difficult to get rid of. The recovery process is also very straightforward: the patient can be back to its normal activities after the sessions, but it’s important to protect the area from the sunlight.

Contact our office today to learn which vein treatment may be right for you!

Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, and occurs in both men and women. The skin is formed by several types of cells, which means that there are different types of cancer depending on the type of cells that they are affecting.

Basal Cell Carcinoma

Basal cells are in the lower part of the epidermis (one of the skin layers) and are the responsible for the skin renewal. These cells are always dividing to replace the squamous cells that are being removed from the surface. As they move to the skin surface, they start to get flatter until they turn into squamous cells.

Basal cells carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer (8 out of 10 skin cancers). This type of cancer grows slowly and can develop on sun-exposed areas. Because it grows slowly it is considered a non-aggressive type of cancer and it’s not likely to spread easily. But, if left untreated it can start spreading to other places.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Squamous cells are the flat cells that are in the outer part of the epidermis. These are the cells that are constantly shedding when new cells are formed.

Squamous cell carcinoma occurs in these cells that are in the outer layer. It’s more likely to occur in sun-exposed areas, but it can also occur in non-exposed areas as well.

Treatment

For both types of skin cancer, the range of treatments is the same. They can include medications, surgery, radiation or even light therapy. Here are some examples of treatment:

• Medications

In the case of skin cancer, the medication can be topical (a cream that will be rubbed in the lesion area) or taken orally. Oral medication is usually used for more advanced cases.

• Radiation

This uses X-Rays to destroy a tumor, and the main advantage is that there is no need for anesthesia or cutting.  The cure rates using this technique are around 90%

• Cryosurgery

In this technique, the tumor is destroyed by freezing it with liquid nitrogen. The cure rates of this technique are not as high as other surgical ones, only 85-90% and this is why it is not as used anymore.

• Photodynamic Therapy (PTD)

This technique uses a topical acid which is light-sensitizing, and then the medicated area is activated by a strong blue light.  Technically this will only destroy the cancerous cells, with almost no damage to the surrounding areas. The cure rates are 70-90%.

• Excisional Surgery

This is the classical surgery, that uses a scalpel to remove the lesion along with a border of healthy tissue around it (for safety).

• Curettage and Electrodesiccation

This is used only for small lesions. The cell growth is scraped off with a curette and then the site is burned with an electrocautery needle. The procedure is painful, and it requires anesthesia. The cure rates are usually up to 95%.

• Mohs Micrographic Surgery

This technique uses both surgery and microscopy techniques at the same time. The physician removes a thin layer of tissue containing the tumor, and then the layer is analyzed under the microscope. This analysis allows the physician to map where the cancerous cells are, and repeat the procedure only where the cancer is. This way the healthy tissue is preserved and the cure rate is also high, around 99%.

• Laser Surgery

This uses a beam of light of a specific wavelength to destroy the cancerous cells.

In some cases, more than one technique may be used for a better cure rate. Talk to your doctor about your options.

Then Kybella may be the answer for you! Kybella is a new, FDA-Approved, injectable treatment that melts away the excess fat that causes double chins. No matter how much dieting and exercising you do sometimes we just can’t get fat to go away in key areas, like the neck. New scientific advances in the formulation of cosmetic substances have created treatments, like Kybella, that use substances that naturally occur in our bodies. The substance used in Kybella treatments is a man-made form of deoxycholic acid, a naturally occurring material that helps the body absorb fat.  Kybella works to destroy fat cells that create the unflattering phenomenon known as the “double chin. ”

Safe, Effective and Long Lasting

Because it’s FDA approved, Kybella is a safe, effective and lasting treatment. It is minimally invasive and requires only a topical numbing cream before each treatment. Injections are quick and patients can return to normal activities shortly afterwards. There may be some temporary, localized swelling for a short period around the injection area, but that quickly goes away. Kybella eliminates the need for surgical options or other invasive fat-elimination techniques because it mimics the body’s natural fat-absorption process over time to reduce or eliminate that dreaded double chin. Contact our office today to learn more about Kybella!

The effects of time on the skin are a concern for a lot of people. There are a lot of things that contribute to the formation of wrinkles and lines, and the loss of natural skin components is one of them. This loss can be accelerated depending on your lifestyle. Stress, unhealthy food habits and too much sun contribute to premature skin aging.

An important component that helps the skin staying young is the Hyaluronic Acid. The Hyaluronic Acid is naturally produced by our body, and it is very important to maintain and support the structure of the organs. It is thanks to this support that the skin can remain young, resistant and elastic. With aging, the production of this acid decreases a lot, and that’s why wrinkles start to appear.

So, since the loss of this acid causes undesirable effects on the skin, a lot of cosmetic approaches focus on replacing it. Because this acid is naturally produced by the body, adding it to the skin is safe. And this is the goal of the Belotero products.

Belotero is a filler made from hyaluronic acid. It can be used for to treat small lines as well as deep ones, so it’s a very versatile dermal filler. One of the main advantages of Belotero is that its composition avoids the formation of a lumpy or puffy effect.

The process of the injections has a minimal amount of pain. The needle used is very fine and there are Belotero products that have lidocaine in it, diminishing, even more, the amount of discomfort. The recovery is quite simple, and right after the procedure you can go back to work and continue with your normal routine. The patients can experience some redness or swelling, but this usually goes away quickly. The treatment takes about 45 minutes, and is administered in the comfort of our office. The effects of Belotero typically last for up to 6 months.

It is very important to remember that these products shouldn’t be used outside of a doctor’s office. Although it might sound very straightforward, the injections require a lot of skill, expertise and precision and are potentially dangerous in the hands of a non-professional. So, an appointment with a doctor is essential before deciding anything. Contact our office today to learn more!

What Is Hair Transplantation?

Hair transplantation is a minor surgical procedure, performed in the doctor’s specially equipped office, where healthy hair is taken from the horseshoe fringe on the back and sides of the scalp and artistically placed throughout balding areas.

Will The Hairline Look Plugged?

No. We exclusively use only micro and mini grafts, where each graft contains 1-3 hairs. Each graft is artistically placed by your doctor, resulting in a completely natural look with no visible evidence of surgery.

How Long Does The Procedure Take?

The procedure takes about two hours. There is no bleeding and bandages are not required after the procedure. You may even shampoo very gently the day after the transplant.

When Can I Return To Normal Activity?

Normal activity, short of strenuous exercise, can be resumed immediately. Complete information about preparing for the procedure and care after the procedure will be given to you by the doctor when you meet for your appointment.

How Many Years Will Transplanted Hair Last?

Transplanted hair should last a lifetime, or at least as long as hair remains in the area from which the transplants were taken. The conclusion is based on our own experience with over 10,000 successful patients over 30 years.

Is The Procedure Painful?

No more so than a visit to the dentist. Seldom is there actual pain after the procedure.

Should I Wait For My Baldness To Advance Before Getting Transplants?

No. Many patients choose to gradually fill balding or thinning areas while there is still hair in the area to serve as camouflage. Their hairline and overall appearance never has changed, and friends never suspected they were having the procedure.

Can You Repair An Unsatisfactory Result From Another Doctor?

Yes, we have been called upon to do so many times in the past, with excellent results. We are able to work between existing hairs with great precision for optimal corrective outcomes.

Why Don’t More Doctors Perform The Procedure?

Tremendous technical skill combined with artistic talent and experience is required to perform hair transplants. Establishing a reputation, as we have, takes more than slick advertising and a catchy slogan. The physicians in our practice have pioneered advances, including the use of laser, in our 30 years and lecture nationally on our techniques. We are proven leaders and our results show it. Contact our office today to learn more!

Tattoos are a great way of keeping eternizing a memory or maybe just keeping a nice drawing on you permanently. This technique of marking the skin is popular from tribes to the modern world, and it seems that its popularity only grows more and more.

But, as much as you might enjoy your tattoo now, no one is immune to regret. Maybe you made a matching tattoo with someone you don’t get along with anymore, maybe it was the name of an ex-boyfriend, or maybe you just got sick of the drawing. There are several reasons why someone might want to remove a tattoo, but how to get rid of something that Is literally part of your skin?

There are ways of getting rid of a tattoo, and lasers are the most popular ones. The laser works by breaking down the ink particles so that the immune cells of the body are able to absorb and then excrete it.

Today’s laser technologies improved a lot so now they make it possible to remove the ink in fewer sessions, as well as being able to remove colorful ink (which is way more difficult to remove than black ink). However, tattoo removal is far from being a simple procedure because the tattoo is made of layers of ink one laser session is not enough to remove everything.  We recommend multiple sessions in order to significantly reduce or remove the tattoo.

Another thing to take in consideration is the place where you are going to get it removed. It is easy to find places that do tattoo removal, but not everyone is qualified to do it.  The best approach is to talk to a dermatologist who is qualified enough to evaluate the best approach according to your health condition, the size of the tattoo, the colors and other aspects.  A dermatologist will also provide you with instructions on how to take care of your skin after the procedure so that the results are optimized, and the risks of side-effects are reduced. The dermatologists in our practice have years of experience and expertise in tattoo removal and can guide you through the process to help you achieve the best possible outcome.

So, if you regret getting a tattoo contact our office to learn more about tattoo removal.

Rash is a general term that refers to a change in skin color and/or texture. There are several types of rash, which can be caused by several different factors such as allergies, the use of certain medications (such as antibiotics), fungal infections and even heat.

One type of rash that is particularly relevant and common is the contact dermatitis, which is going to be explored a bit more in this article.

1. What is it?

It’s a type of skin irritation that is caused by contact with a specific substance.

2. Symptoms

Common symptoms of contact dermatitis are red and irritated skin, similar to a burn. The skin can often get itchy, dry, thickened and blistered. The blisters can be crusty or weep and ooze. In some cases, this rash can cause pain.

Because it is caused by contact with substances, the hands and arms are usually the most affected (the hands are our main place of interaction with the world). This rash tends to be located only where the substance touched and doesn’t spread everywhere.

It is also common that the areas affected by it also get infected (because the protective layer of the skin is damaged).

3. Causes

As mentioned before, the contact dermatitis is caused by contact with some specific substance. This substance can be something that the patient is allergic to or a substance that irritates the skin.

Some common causes are:

• Soaps and detergents
• Poison Ivy
• Jewelry containing nickel
• Diapers

4. Diagnosis

Contact dermatitis is usually diagnosed by the patient. The observation of how the skin is behaving and if there is a pattern (if it happens when you use a certain soap, for example) is easily done.

But when the rash persists it’s always good to see a doctor, to make sure it is not something else.

5. Treatment

The main thing to do is to avoid the substance that caused it. You should also clean the affected region with a neutral antiseptic soap and cold water. This removes any substance that could still be on your skin, and the cold water reduced the inflammation and helps with the pain. Cleaning the area also reduces the chances of infection. Moisturizers are used frequently to help restore the skin, but they should be used with caution because depending on the substances present in the cream, it can make it worse.

Depending on how serious and how persistent the rash is, you might need hydrocortisone creams or even antihistamines. If you think you may have Contact dermatitis contact our office today.

Facials are treatments that aim to revitalize your skin, as well as preventing ageing signs. The beauty industry is always growing, and unfortunately, the amount of people trying to make easy money scamming other people also grows with it. People are attracted by promises of miracles and new exotic extracts from faraway lands and often fall into the trap of expensive and useless treatments. These are not only bad for your wallet, but can also be dangerous to your skin.

Also, a lot of treatments offered at Spas promises long-term results, but are actually only effective for a few hours.

But not everything is fake. In fact, the right treatments can change your skin a lot and cause several benefits improving not only how it looks, but your skin health as well.

So, it’s important to always look for qualified and reliable professionals to both evaluate your skin, as well as perform the facials. Our practice has a team of Licensed Medical Estheticians that perform different types of facials for different types of patients and skins. Here are some of the treatments provided:

• Custom Signature Facial

This treatment provides both a deep cleansing and a deep hydration. It also includes facial massage to improve cellular metabolism and blood circulation.

• Custom Rejuvenating Facial

It is similar to the signature facial, but with a deeper cleansing that also involves using steam to unclog pores and remove blackheads. I also include the use of a nourishing mask full of vitamins, as well as a neck and shoulder massage, helping you to relax completely.

• Teen Purifying Facial

Teenagers, with all the hormones and body changes, usually suffer from acne. This treatment removes blackheads and sebaceous follicles and reduces the oil on the skin, preventing it from happening again.

• Back Renewal

It uses the same techniques of the custom signature facial, but on the upper and lower back.

• Micro Facial

This facial is used to smooth lines and wrinkles. It uses microdermabrasion or diamond tip treatment to do a super-exfoliation, rejuvenating the skin.

• Short and Sweet Facial

Perfect for people with a busy routine. This mini-facial calms refreshes and protects the skin.

However, it’s always important to remember that doing facials but neglecting your skin at home is just a waste of money. You need to do your homework! So, you should combine regular facials with a daily care, such as cleaning and hydrating your skin, as well as protecting it with sunscreen. Contact our office today to learn more!