Science/Technology
California Passes Tanning Bed Ban for Teens
California recently became the first state to ban those under 18 from using tanning salons because of connection between tanning beds and skin cancer. While awaiting FDA regulations on teens and tanning, California Governor Jerry Brown signed the measure prohibiting tanning salons from allowing anyone under 18 to use tanning beds, regardless of parental approval. Georgia hasn’t banned the use of tanning beds for those under 18, but it is one of the states that requires in-person, parental permission for anyone under 18 to tan in a tanning bed.
According to stats from the National Cancer Institute up to 35% of 17-year-old girls will use a tanning bed to maintain their summer glow. Other studies have indicated that tanners, especially young girls, can exhibit behaviors demonstrating an addiction to indoor tanning. Additionally, tanning beds use activity that exposes humans to some of the highest levels of carcinogens to humans, increasing the risk of developing melanoma by 75%. Tanning beds utilize concentrated ultraviolet light which can cause sunburn and speed up the skin’s aging process and increase the risk of deadly skin cancer. Those who tan indoors are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.
In fact, a recent article published in Skin & Allergy News links the spike in current melanoma cases amongst women aged 25 to 34 to the use of tanning beds during their teens in the 1990s. One dermatologist said that almost all of his melanoma patients admitted to using a tanning bed at some point in their past.
At Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, we encourage our patients to avoid unprotected sun exposure including the use of tanning beds. For those who may not have adhered to this rule in the past, we perform annual skin cancer screenings to ensure no cancer is present, and identify any pre-cancers (actinic keratosis), to begin skin cancer treatment plans if necessary.
Skin cancer treatments like photodynamic therapy which destroys cancerous tissue, topical chemotherapy for basal cell carcinomas, cryosurgery to freeze and eliminate abnormal tissue, and Mohs skin cancer surgery to remove the cancerous tissue layer by layer, are all available at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta. Depending on the patient and type of skin cancer, some laser treatments from our Laser Institute of Georgia may also be used instead of cryosurgery.
For more information on skin cancer symptoms, prevention, and treatment, contact us. You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest dermatology and skin cancer news.
DAA’s Laser Institute of Georgia
If you thought Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s eight on-site specialty centers were extensive, then you will definitely consider the sixteen different lasers at the Laser Institute of Georgia amazing. We, however, see it as a way to provide Atlantans with the best skin care head to toe. Lasers can treat a variety of skin conditions, and our physicians have over twenty years of experience working with this skin care technology.
If you’re wondering why sixteen lasers are necessary, allow us to explain: just like no two human beings are identical, all lasers are slightly different. Although settings can be adjusted on most lasers, certain lasers treat specific conditions and skin types better. Lasers are attracted to pigment, the darker the pigment, the more effective the laser treatment. Take laser hair removal and laser tattoo removal for an example. We probably wouldn’t have much luck trying to remove hair with a tattoo removal laser (or setting). › Continue reading
DAA Featured on FOX 5 Performing CoolSculpting™ by ZELTIQ™
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, P.C. was recently featured on FOX 5 Atlanta as they follow at patient seeking the newest in non-invasive cellulite reduction, CoolSculpting By ZELTIQ™, recently approved by the FDA as reducing cellulite and fat and having little to no down time, unlike liposuction. For more information about this procedure, please call our office at (404) 256-4457.
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Did You Know About DAA’s Psoriasis Treatment Center?
Psoriasis can be a difficult skin condition to treat, and even harder to just cope with. Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune disease which commonly appears as red and white flaking patches on the epidermis, or outermost layer of skin. Skin cells grow in cycles with the immune system sending out signals to stimulate the next round. Psoriasis occurs when the immune system sends out defective signals, messing up the skin cells’ growth patterns. Despite the disease’s recurring nature, psoriasis is not contagious.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta sees patients daily who have suffered with psoriasis and tried every over-the-counter treatment possible at their Psoriasis Treatment Center. Treating psoriasis is tricky, but fortunately the dermatologists at DAA have discovered that specialized laser treatments, along with other treatments (like Short Contact Anthralin Therapy, special localized therapy, etc.) can help make psoriasis go away.
The Psoriasis Treatment Center stays on the cutting edge of new treatments and technology like their PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser which targets affected areas with a concentrated UV light. Because PHAROS targets psoriasis plaques, our patients can be confident that this treatment will leave the healthy surrounding skin intact. Even “hard-to-treat” areas like the hands, knees, feet, elbows, and scalp are easily treated with PHAROS. Multiple treatments are necessary for complete reduction with most patients going into remission after ten or fewer sessions. These quick, pain-free sessions last only a few minutes and are administered twice a week for four to six weeks. Unfortunately, there is no cure for psoriasis. Our patients usually stay in remission for several months after a complete PHAROS treatment cycle.
DAA’s Psoriasis Treatment Center also offers other laser treatments, along with supplementary treatment methods like special localized therapy for bothersome areas such as the palms, soles, scalp, and nails. DAA’s physicians understand the frustration of living with psoriasis, and go great lengths to provide a comfortable setting with flexible scheduling. For more information about psoriasis or other skin conditions treated at DAA, visit our website and follow the link to our specialty centers. If you suffer from psoriasis, or know someone who does, contact us for more information about our center. Also, continue to read the blog for more dermatology and cosmetic news and specials.
New Chemotherapy Drug Offers Promising Results for Melanoma Patients
Since its first successful phase of clinical trials a little over a year ago, the chemotherapy drug PLX4032 has continued to show promising results in the treatment of melanoma: the deadliest form of skin cancer. This is good news not only to melanoma sufferers, but especially heartening to patients whose cancers have spread past the skin-treatment stage.
According to recent reports published in the August 26th addition of The New England Journal of Medicine, treatment with PLX4032 resulted in tumor shrinkage in 81% of the patients within the trial. These patients were selected for the trial medication because their lab work exhibited the same genetic predisposition for the disease (the BRAF mutation.)
While there are several different types of skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma, melanomas can kill within 3 months as they have the ability to spread quickly and metastasize to internal organ systems. This reiterates the importance of having any suspicious new spots examined by a dermatologist. Skin cancers are most accurately diagnosed through skin biopsies in which a board certified dermatologist will excise a small tissue sample and review the questionable cells microscopically.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta stresses the importance of patients (and their children) to undergo annual “skin cancer body checks” to ensure there are no suspect spots. In the event other measures need to be taken, DAA’s Surgical Suite is fully equipped to provide MOHS (skin cancer removal) surgery. Skin cancer is, to a large degree, preventable by avoiding excess sun exposure and protecting your skin with an SPF 30 sunscreen (or higher.)
To learn more about the treatments offered or to schedule your “skin cancer body check” at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta visit their website or continue to read their blog.
Malignant Melanoma: What’s Your Excuse for Not Getting Your Annual Skin Cancer Body Check?
When you hear that someone died suddenly due to skin cancer, the cancer is most likely a melanoma. This malignant killer can be 100% cured if discovered early. Melanoma deaths account for 2-3% of all cancer-related deaths. According to the American Cancer Society, of the 60,000 cases of melanoma diagnosed annually, 8,000- 10,000 cases could prove fatal.
Melanomas usually begin as a dark brown or black mole. Because this cancer is highly treatable if discovered early, any suspicious new spot or a CHANGING mole should be examined immediately. A dermatology specialist is trained and has the experience to diagnose a malignant lesion early enough to obtain a cure in case the diagnosis is melanoma. The rule is to take a simple biopsy if there is any question, your life could be in the balance.
Melanoma is a subject near and dear to Dr. Griffin’s heart: he identified a changing mole on his own shoulder which had no dark color. The mole was biopsied and was positive for melanoma. It was promptly removed with appropriate borders. Luckily it had not spread wide or deep and resulted in a 100% cure rate. Dr. Griffin’s daughter, who was only 20 years old at the time, also had a changing mole removed that proved to be an early stage melanoma. Luckily it was removed early enough to be considered 100% cured. If a family member has had a malignant melanoma, you are more likely to have one also. Examine your own skin as a start: look for changing moles, new growth, pigmented (and unpigmented) areas. See the expert early and demand a biopsy for any suspicious growth. You must take a role in saving your own life.
According to the 1996 study published by Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (Goldstein et al, 1996), patients exhibiting more than 75 moles, a family history of melanoma, as well as recessive genetic traits like fair skin and light eyes are at 3-times a greater risk of developing the cancer than those who don’t. Schedule your annual skin cancer body check today, especially if you fit the criteria mentioned above, with one of Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s skin specialists.
Continue reading Dermatology Associates blog for more information on skin cancer and other dermatological conditions. You can also join us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest dermatology news.
PRP Technology: Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy Used in Skin Rejuvenation
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) utilizes the healing power of isolated platelets from an individual’s own blood to aid in the rejuvenation of their body’s soft tissues and bones. This therapy is a part of a quickly emerging medical niche called Orthobiologics which studies ways in which the body is able to heal itself. According to a study published in the May issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, PRP therapy has proven itself effective in face and neck rejuvenation. This discovery makes dermatologists, like Dermatology Associates of Atlanta founder Dr. Edmond Griffin, especially hopeful about the potential benefits PRP therapy may bring to dermatology patients seeking cosmetic treatments.
The journal’s three month study followed 23 patients who were given monthly injections of their own centrifuge-obtained platelets into areas of depression or small wrinkles on their faces and/or necks. The results of the injections were carefully documented by a chronological series of photos using a dermoscope camera. This specialty device enabled study coordinators to pinpoint specific areas of visible skin rejuvenation. The participant’s results measured progress in several regions of the face, but showed the most improvement in improving skin texture and evening tone (33% increase) and reducing the amount of wrinkles around the eyes (30% reduction.)
The study’s results are not only of interest to Dermatologists like those at DAA, but are also promising to Cosmetic Surgeons who point to potential refinement in the facial fillers (like Botox® and Dysport®) and dermal injectables (like Restylane® and Juevederm®) that use the products to relax wrinkles and fill-in areas of the face that naturally lose volume with age. This emerging research field is changing daily so stay in the loop by reading DAA’s blog or visiting their website regularly.
Painless Acne Laser Treatment IsoLaz Giving Patients a Radiant and Clear Complexion
If you are frustrated with acne and wish that you had clear skin – you’re not alone. In fact, over 60 million Americans suffer from acne. Unfortunately, many have had difficulty finding an effective treatment. This month, Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, P.C. is thrilled to introduce the FDA approved, IsoLaz™ Acne Deep Pore Laser Therapy at their in-house laser center: The Laser Institute of Georgia. Dermatology Associates of Atlanta is one of only two practices in the state of Georgia to offer this new technology.
The new treatment is painless and short; easily performed during the span of a lunch break. IsoLaz’s ™ revolutionary Photopneumatics™ technology combines vacuum and laser therapy to loosen and extract dirt, blackheads, and excess oils from deep within your pores so the laser light can better destroy the underlying acne-causing bacteria. For most patients, just a few IsoLaz™ treatments produce noticeable improvements to uneven skin tone, sun damaged skin, facial redness, pronounced veins, and even unwanted hair.
In addition to its’ almost immediately noticeable results, and unlike other laser treatments that can produce redness and crusting post-procedure, the IsoLaz™ system is safe for all skin types, does not cause sensitivity to light, and allows you to resume your normal activities immediately after your treatment .
DOT Laser Can Pin-Point Skin Problems
The professional laser technicians at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s Laser Institute of Georgia will regularly use a combination of their over 15 different lasers to best remedy patients’ skin issues. The laser technology world is also learning the advantages of combination treatments evidenced by the invention and increased popularity of the DOT (Dermal Optical Thermolysis) laser.
The advancements in laser skin therapy have come a long way in the past couple of years. Invented more recently, the Fractionated (Fraxel) CO2 lasers have the marked advantage of being able to increase collagen and elastin production to treat wrinkles, hyper pigmentation (skin darkening), and facial scarring in specific areas of the face, neck, and hands through tiny columns penetrating the dermis.
Originally introduced in the 1960’s, CO2 Laser Resurfacing was a great invention for eliminating deep wrinkles on those patients with fair complexions. The down-side to the original CO2 Laser was that it had to be used over the entire face to prevent an uneven appearance, and the strength of the treatment required significant recovery time (typically a whole month.)
The DOT laser combines the main advantages of both the original CO2 and Fraxel CO2 by penetrating the lower collagen-containing layers of the dermis through tiny microscopic points. This combination results in magnified results (smoother, tighter, younger looking skin) with significantly decreased pain and recovery time.
While the DOT laser is a viable option for most skin-types and a variety of skin issues, it’s important to schedule a consultation and speak with one of Dermatology Associates of Atlanta licensed laser technicians by calling (404) 256-4457 or visiting our website.
Is Nanotechnology the Future of Your Skin Care Products? Dermatology Associates of Atlanta Discuss New Technology
Is nanotechnology the future of your skin care products? Some scientists and dermatologists think so. In fact, patents for products using nanotechnology are most rapidly growing in the cosmetic skin care field, including everything from shampoo to eye shadow. But there is a reason that you haven’t seen a surge of these types of products on your store shelves – the FDA still hasn’t determined its safety.
Despite uncertainty about side effects, scientists are hopeful about the future of nanotechnology and skin care. Because of their miniscule particle size, nanotechnology has unique properties and benefits not achievable by bigger sized particles in current products. A Medical News Today article cited sunscreen as an example. Currently, the larger particles used in sunscreen are what leaves greasiness and white residue on the skin; a sunscreen made with nanoparticles however, would have the same UVA/UVB blocking benefits without the leftovers on the skin.
With nanotechnology, the smaller sized particles more easily penetrate the skin, making it possible to deliver and absorb important nutrients and ingredients not currently possible with bigger particle size.
While nanotechnology shows great promise for skin care, make up, and anti-aging products, scientist are also hopeful for nanotechnology in the treatment of cancer. In fact, a recent animal study showed that nano sized shells of gold were very effective in the treatment of melanoma (the most deadly form of skin cancer) – creating the potential for a very effective noninvasive dermatological skin cancer treatment.
It is important to note, that while these advancements are promising and exciting, the FDA still has not determined the safety of nanotechnology on the skin. We at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta will work keep you abreast of any developments in this field or any other technology advancements.
No Fair! Dermatologists Discover that Women Develop More Wrinkles than Men
You have often heard aging woman complain that as they age, they are deemed “old”, but as men age they become more “distinguished.” The findings from a recent study about facial wrinkles can be added to the list of complaints…
A recent article in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal (the official publication of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery or ASAPS) published a study that found women to develop more wrinkles around the mouth area than men do with advancing age.
While dermatologists (and aging woman) have long suspected this was the case, this new study points to the differences in facial anatomy as the root of this discrepancy. For example, women have fewer sweat (also known as sebaceous) glands in that region of the face. These glands are oil producing and work to keep the skin smooth and wrinkle-free. Facial muscles are also closer to the surface of the skin in women than the muscles found in men, which may cause the skin to pull tighter and eventually be an additional cause for more wrinkles. Additionally, women have fewer blood vessels resulting in less blood flow, which may contribute to the problem.
Even though these factors may contribute to wrinkling in women, the best way to prevent wrinkles is to practice good skin health. That means practicing safe sun exposure, avoid smoking, and keeping your skin moisturized.
For women who wish to correct some of these facial wrinkles, injections like Botox®, Dysport® or facial fillers, laser treatments, or microdermabrasion can be the solution. Contact Dermatology Associates of Atlanta for more information or to schedule a consultation.
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