Dermatology News
Non-Surgical and Surgical Acne Scarring Treatments
Individuals of all ages and backgrounds suffer from acne. Found almost anywhere on the body, typical acne problem areas include the face, chest, and back. Generally caused by excessive oil, bacteria growth can also cause long-term scarring of the skin. Acne scars can come in various sizes and shapes including shallow, deep, narrow, and pitted scars. Some patients cannot allow their acne to heal without scratching and traumatizing the pimples leading to a scar.
Board certified dermatologist, Dr. Edmond Griffin has been treating patients with acne scars for over 35 years and has found customized combinations of non-surgical and surgical acne scarring treatments, based on the patient’s individual needs, provide the most effective results. Most patients will need more than one acne scarring treatment for optimal results but should find improvement with each procedure.
Some non-surgical acne scarring treatments include facial fillers (frequently the patient’s own fat), chemical peels, needling and laser treatments. The providers of Dermatology Associates of Atlanta also use platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) which uses components of the patient’s own blood as a long-term facial filler of acne scars. Dermapen® is a type of needling that can be used to soften acne scars. Other non-invasive treatments for minimal scarring include chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing, and microdermabrasion to remove superficial layers of skin and promote collagen production. Any one of these techniques by itself is not enough. The replacement of the lost tissue with Alloderm or fascia lata is most important to raise the depressed area and allow a leveling of the skin. First subcisions are performed beneath the rolling depressed scar which frees the pulled down portion of the scar and then fills the void. This allows a scaffolding effect which the bodies’ own stem cells move into and recreates the new collagen resulting in a smoothing effect. Ice pick scars are helped most by punch floating so that the scarring tissue is cut away and the pore is allowed to decrease in size.
Surgical acne scarring treatments include punch grafting, subcisions, fat transfer, and acne scar excision. Punch grafting is an effective treatment for ice-pick scars in areas of the body that are less mobile such as the forehead or the nose. Subcision is a minor surgical procedure used for treating depressed scars and is often combined with non-surgical treatments such as laser skin resurfacing for smoother skin. Fat transfer uses fat from another area of the patient’s body that is then purified and re-injected to fill acne scar depressions. Patients benefit from the decreased risk of rejection or reaction as this procedure uses their own fat. Acne scar excision is a technique that individually cuts out a scar and may be necessary for individuals with very deep, irregularly shaped scars: today this excision technique is rarely used because a scar always results. If pigment has been lost, the Xtrac laser is used to restore the pigment in patients of dark completion. Sometimes pigment is transplanted from other areas of the skin such as behind the ear to the areas needing the pigment. Final smoothing with hand sanding or laser resurfacing adds the icing to the cake. It is the last procedure performed not the first. Patients with very mild acne depression can be treated with multiple sessions of Fraxel laser which is non invasive and works well in mild cases. What you really need to do is be evaluated to determine the best treatment for your type of acne and your type of skin.
To learn more about acne scarring treatments available at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta or to schedule an appointment please contact our office at 404-256-4457. Be sure to connect with DAA on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for the latest dermatological news and information.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta in the News
You may have just seen one of Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s experienced providers on television. Board certified dermatologist Dr. Ashley Curtis and Mara Grosswald, PA-C were recently featured on the daytime show Atlanta & Company to discuss MiraDry® for sweat reduction. They explained to the audience how this non-invasive treatment works to permanently eliminate underarm sweat glands, providing life-changing results.
Kathryn Filipek, PA-C was also recently a guest on TrustDale TV to discuss proper skin care, laser procedures and Ultherapy® skin tightening. On the show Kathryn recommended that patients regularly check their skin and see a dermatologist annually for a complete skin check to help prevent sun damage, premature aging, and skin cancer. She detailed certain laser procedures and Ultherapy® skin tightening is a non-invasive procedure that uses ultrasound waves to tighten and lift loose skin on the face and neck. Our practice offers a wide variety of other non-surgical rejuvenation treatments as well including CoolScupting®.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s board certified dermatologists and licensed providers offer patients head-to-toe skincare while specializing in the treatment of many skin conditions and skin procedures. DAA is often the first practice in Georgia to adopt new and effective skincare technology.
If you are looking for a customized treatment for acne and other skin conditions including skin cancer or have hair loss concerns please contact one of our providers: Dr. Edmond Griffin, Dr. Scott Karempelis, Dr. Stephen Kraus, Dr. Joseph Payne, Dr. Ashley Curtis, Delmer Henderson PA-C, Mara Grosswald PA-C, Kathryn Filipek, PA-C . Don’t forget to connect with Dermatology Associates of Atlanta on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ for upcoming events and skin news.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Discuss MiraDry on Atlanta & Company
Dr. Ashley Curtis and Mara Grosswald, PA-C of Dermatology Associates of Atlanta were featured on the daytime show “Atlanta & Company” last week to discuss miraDry® for sweating. This non-invasive technology can permanently reduce underarm sweat by eliminating sweat glands. Previously, underarm sweat reduction treatments included Botox® injections and topical products, which only provide temporary results, or invasive surgical procedures for lasting results.
On the featured segment, Dr. Curtis and Mara explained how the miraDry® procedure works by selectively destroying sweat glands to provide permanent results. Mara assured viewers that it’s physically safe to remove underarm sweat glands as they only account for 2 percent of your total sweat glands. As the first providers in Georgia to offer the miraDry® system, Dermatology Associates of Atlanta has treated many patients who have seen life-changing results.
You can watch the entire segment below. For more information about the miraDry® procedure, call our office today. Be sure to connect with DAA on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest for upcoming skincare events and specials.
Hemangiomas and Skin Treatment for Infants
Infants can sometimes develop hemangiomas more commonly known as red spots. They often look similar to a birthmark and usually do not cause pain or harm. Approximately one in 10 to 20 Caucasian children are affected by hemangiomas. Although the exact cause is still unknown, they are likely caused by embolized cells that lie dormant during intrauterine life and begin to proliferate after birth to form the spots.
Most red spots on infants occur on the head or neck area; however, they can appear anywhere on the body. Although hemangiomas typically disappear over time, they can occasionally become fast-growing which causes concern for parents. Usually red spots appear on the body as a superficial lesion or on top of skin. However, if a lesion is deeper or expands rapidly, a plaque-like tumor can appear which may need surgical removal. Other treatments available for removing red spots that do not fade over time include laser treatment, prescription medications, and cryotherapy.
The board certified dermatologists at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta are highly skilled and experienced in removing and treating this skin condition. During a skin analysis consultation, our dermatologists can determine what treatment would provide the most effective results for the patient. Discoloration of the skin and other common skin conditions affecting infants such as hyperpigmentation can also be treated by our providers.
If you are interested in learning more about red spots or other skin conditions, please contact our office today. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for the latest dermatology news and information.
Atlanta Dermatologists Also Treat Rare Skin Cancers
One in five Americans will develop skin cancer over the course of a lifetime. Skin cancer is unique as it comes in a variety of types, shapes, and sizes. Most people have probably heard of melanoma, which is considered the most serious and dangerous type of skin cancer that usually appears as a dark black or brown lesion. Other frequently discussed skin cancers include basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are easily treatable.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta also treats patients with more rare skin cancers that can show different warning signs than the typical sore, lesion, and scaling skin symptoms. Rare skin cancers include dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP), merkel cell carcinoma, and sebaceous carcinoma. Warning signs may include the appearance of scar or sty, but patients do not always consider these changes as signs of skin cancer. That’s why our board certified dermatologists recommend patients getting an annual skin check to prevent skin cancers from going undiagnosed in the early stages. In addition to a thorough skin check, our dermatologists suggest consulting with them anytime you notice an unusual skin lesion appear.
Our Skin Cancer Center treats skin cancer with several different methods including Mohs surgery: the most technologically advanced treatment that precisely removes cancer one tissue layer at a time. This method of surgery is highly effective, especially for rare cancers that may occur in sensitive areas such as the face, because it lowers the chance of regrowth and disfigurement. Other skin cancer treatments our board certified dermatologists frequently use include photodynamic therapy, topical chemotherapy, cryosurgery, and laser treatments.
For more information about skin cancer and the available skin cancer treatments, please call for an appointment today. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Google + and Pinterest for the latest dermatological news and information.
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