skin cancer
Sunscreen for Rosacea Treatment?
We’ve all been preached to about the dangers of unprotected sun exposure: melanoma, skin cancer, wrinkles, sun spots/liver spots, rough skin texture, freckles, sunburn, hyperpigmentation, (the list goes on and on). One thing you may not have heard is that sunscreen, in addition to preventing skin conditions like those listed above; can also help treat skin conditions that increase photo sensitivity—like rosacea.
Rosacea is a skin disorder marked by inflamed, red, or irregularly textured skin of the neck and face. The causes of rosacea are › Continue reading
Sun Myths Debunked: DAA Celebrates Skin Cancer Awareness Month
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta addresses some of the most common sun myths for skin cancer awareness month. Do tanning beds cause skin cancer? Does sun exposure get rid of acne? Pick up a copy of Atlanta’s Best Self Magazine to find out!
Welcome to our Newest Dermatologist, Dr. Ashley R. Curtis!
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta welcomes dermatologist, Dr. Ashley R. Curtis to our staff! We are excited to have Dr. Curtis’ specialized knowledge of dermatology (i.e.- skin cancer, acne, psoriasis, eczema, etc.) as well as female hair-loss. Dr. Curtis’ unique medical perspective will further enhance DAA’s dermatologist and provider team.
Dr. Curtis joins us from Winston-Salem, N.C. where she held the Chief Resident position at Wake Forest University Department of Dermatology. When not practicing, Dr. Curtis used her time in North Carolina to write and review articles for the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and various publications for dermatology news. She also enjoyed volunteering time at Wake Forest to help with skin cancer screenings and community care clinics. We look forward to reading more of Dr. Curtis’ articles and witnessing her exemplary patient care.
Dr. Curtis is now accepting appointments and will begin seeing patients July 1st. If you would like to know more about Dr. Ashley Curtis, we invite you to post your questions on DAA’s Facebook and Twitter pages. We’re dedicated to fulfilling your skin care needs- head to toe, and would love to hear from you!
Eight Dermatology Specialty Centers with ONE Goal: Head-To-Toe Skin Care
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta is an all-serving medical facility with eight on-site specialty centers. Our team of board certified dermatologists and physician’s assistants, with 150 years of combined experience, provides patients with optimum care of the skin, hair, and nails. Because our practice’s offerings are a bit extensive, each specialty center containing its own staff of trained physicians and practitioners with their own distinct menu of skin treatments, we’ve decided to highlight each center in our upcoming blog series. Listed below is a brief overview of what’s offered at each specialty center:
• Atlanta Center for Veins: Our vein treatment center offers face and leg vein elimination treatment for varicose and spider veins including: sclerotherapy, Veinwave™, laser vein removal, and Foto Facial® IPL treatment. DAA’s vein specialists has successfully treated varicose and spider veins for over 20 years.
• Atlanta Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Center: Cosmetic procedures like blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery), liposuction, facial rejuvenation, facial fillers, and dermal injectables are offered in our cosmetic surgery center. Our surgical procedures are performed in our state approved, AAAHC accredited Surgical Suite and non-surgical procedures are performed in our treatment rooms.
• Dermatology Center: This center is dedicated to basic dermatological conditions of the skin, hair and nails such as warts, acne, rashes, brown spots, or precancerous lesions.
- Skin Cancer Center: Part of DAA’s Dermatology Center, our Skin Cancer Center is devoted to the prevention and removal of skin cancer. Skin cancer body checks are performed regularly. Surgical removal of cancerous lesions can be performed in one of our procedure rooms; more advanced surgeries must be performed in our Surgical Suite. For instance, Mohs skin cancer surgery, our most precise and effective method of removing skin cancer is performed in the Surgical Suite.
• Griffin Center of Hair Restoration and Research: Dr. Edmond Griffin, leading hair loss specialist and board certified dermatologist for 34 years, founded this center with the goal of ensuring that every patient with a hair loss condition leaves his office informed about hair loss prevention methods, treatment options, and a clear understanding if hair restoration surgery is right for them.
• Laser Institute of Georgia: We are proud, not only to be the largest and most experienced laser center in the Southeast, but also the first laser center available in Georgia. We offer 16 different lasers. Our physicians have over 20 years of experience using lasers to remove and/or reduce: wrinkles, brown or red spots, tattoos, facial veins, freckles, birthmarks, and unwanted hair.
• Psoriasis Treatment Center: Specifically devoted to treat patients suffering from psoriasis, this center offers various treatment methods including: PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser treatments, scalp hydrotherapy, and localized psoriasis therapy, to name a few.
• Skin Medics™ Medical Spa: A visit to Skin Medics™ will allow you to indulge in the latest facial rejuvenation techniques with microdermabrasion, facials, natural peels and chemical peels. Our board certified dermatologists and licensed medical aestheticians work together to meet your every skin care need.
- Hair Removal Center: Located within Skin Medics™, this center provides multiple options for hair removal such as waxing, electrolysis, and laser hair removal. Laser hair removal is also offered at DAA’s Laser Institute of Georgia.
• The Surgical Suite: Our 2000 square-foot outpatient center is state approved, AAAHC accredited, and devoted to safety as well as medical and surgical excellence. Our surgical suite offers comprehensive surgical services, an experienced medical staff, and a comfortable waiting area for friends or family members.
Be sure to visit the Dermatology Associates of Atlanta website for more information on the services we provide at each of the centers. Also, stay tuned for the upcoming blog series as we further introduce each specialty center, along with our regular updates on dermatology news and our specials.
Actinic Keratosis: An Important Warning Sign to Protect Your Skin
We all know that the sun’s ultra violet rays can be especially damaging to our skin; causing us to wrinkle prematurely, destroying our skin’s elasticity, and even sometimes leading to the formation of skin cancer. Just as sunburn is visible, physical proof of sun damage, the formation actinic keratosis is tangible proof of sun exposure and often a precursor to basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinomas.
Actinic keratosis, also known as a solar keratosis or sun spot, is a non-threatening, rough (sand paper textured), pinkish spot on the skin. Because the spots are so easily overlooked, they often go undetected for years before progressing to a true cancer which must be completely removed. Actinic keratoses are almost exclusively found on sun exposed skin (especially in fair skin patients with light eyes). Keratoses frequently appear in clusters on the face and forehead. While not all types of keratosis will lead to cancer, it’s vital to seek treatment from a dermatology specialist so he/she can destroy these cells before they are allowed to progress.
Individuals with fair complexions, hair, and eye color should be particularly vigilant about skin cancer screenings and ensure they have at least one annual skin cancer body check. “Fair” patients are those that frequently complain how they tan poorly and burn easily. Most insurance policies now allow a careful yearly exam to not only identify these precancerous growths, but also to find and identify abnormal moles which may be, or become, malignant melanoma.
Avoiding these abnormal growths is fairly simple: regularly shield your skin (i.e.- face, body, and neck) with a sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher and avoid extended periods of sun exposure. Remember, avoiding the sun will also help prevent premature aging and wrinkling. If you’re concerned about getting enough sun for healthy vitamin D production, a simple blood test can determine whether a dietary supplement may be needed. The benefits of decreased exposure and enhanced sun protection measures far outweigh those of extended sun exposure.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta’s board certified specialists remind you to protect your skin even throughout the winter months. Reflective agents like ice and snow can magnify the harmful effects of harmful UV rays. To learn more about skin cancer prevention or skin cancer treatments available at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta visit their website or continue to read their blog.
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.
Calling All Sun Bathers- Deadly Skin Cancer Rates Soar For Generation Of Baby Boomers
If you’ve read any of our past blogs, you’ve probably noticed how adamant the professionals at Dermatology Associates are about protecting your skin from sun exposure. Hopefully readers will now heed their warnings- SunSmart, a UK based Skin Cancer research organization, has compiled findings which show that adults of the Baby Boomer generation are now five times more likely to develop Melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) than previous generations.
The UK group attributes this trend to the rise in popularity of low-cost package vacations and the introduction of tanning beds in the 1970’s. Baby Boomers, who as a group were in their 20’s and 30’s during this period, remember a culture where “burning before tanning” was the norm for everyone. Even more astounding, the study also found that of the Baby Boomer cohort, men in their 60’s and 70’s were seven times more likely to develop Melanoma than men of the same age 30 years ago.
The most important thing to remember about sun damage is that it is preventable. Wearing a sunscreen with an appropriate SPF for your complexion (no lower than SPF 15) and remembering to re-apply sunscreen every couple of hours while outdoors are imperative. The information from this study isn’t just a call to Baby Boomers, this trend could very easily repeat itself with Generation X, Y, and Z’ers if proper preventative sun protection is ignored.
If you have a fair complexion with light hair, light eyes, freckles, or have lots of moles you are naturally more susceptible to sun damage. If you have a history of sunburn you are also at an increased risk for developing Melanoma or other forms of skin cancer. So, when it comes to sun exposure remember- lather with sunscreen and repeat!
To learn more about preventative skin care or to schedule a consultation with one of Dermatology Associate’s professionals, visit our website or call (404) 256-4457.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta News Highlight: The American Academy Of Dermatology Makes Official Statement On The Indoor Tanning Tax
The recent passage of the healthcare reform bill and the attached 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning salons has tanning bed goers everywhere in an uproar. But if you have read any of our blogs or visited any of the physicians at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, you know that we are STRONGLY AGAINST the use of indoor tanning beds because of the negative repercussions it can have on your overall skin health.
A recently released official statement from The American Academy of Dermatology agrees with us saying, “Indoor tanning is dangerous. There is compelling, irrefutable scientific evidence which shows that indoor tanning beds can increase your risk for skin cancer. A tax on indoor tanning services serves as a signal from the federal government to young people that indoor tanning is dangerous and should be avoided.”
Some statistics they use to support their opinions include the fact that using tanning beds before the age of 35 increases a person’s risk for melanoma (the deadliest form of skin cancer) by 75 percent!
The American Academy of Dermatology is openly supportive of the healthcare reform tanning tax, noting that it helps to further the goal of promoting wellness and prevention as part of overall healthcare reform – feeling that it will discourage more people from practicing indoor tanning.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta has no official position in support or in opposition to the healthcare reform bill, but we do have a position on the safety of indoor tanning: Tanning beds are a definite cause of skin cancer and should be avoided!
If you have any suspicious sun damage spots or would just like an overall skin cancer check, schedule a consultation with one of our board certified dermatologists today. And remember – don’t use the tanning bed!
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.
FDA Considers Stricter Tanning Bed Regulations
Everyone has heard by now that tanning is bad. The harm from the UV rays in tanning beds can be cancer causing, even in moderation. That is why the FDA is publicly considering stricter regulations on indoor tanning salons.
As we have discussed in previous blogs, the World Health Organization has officially deemed tanning beds as a “definite” cause of cancer – upgrading them from their previous classification as a “probable” cause of cancer.
This has prompted the FDA to consider a requirement for more visible warning labels on tanning beds, to make user better aware of the risk they are taking. The FDA is also considering following suit with the World Health Organization and putting tanning beds into a more sever classification to establish them as a carcinogen.
Proponents of the tanning bed industry already have enough on their plate – actively lobbying against legislation to put taxes on tanning salons to help pay for the healthcare reform bill. Spokespeople for the tanning industry claim that it is only harmful for people who “overdo it.”
But as any qualified dermatologist would tell you, prolonged exposure to UV rays (like the tanning bed) causes cancer, no matter how “careful” you are about it. Last year alone, there were 69,000 cases of melanoma, the most severe type of skin cancer, and resulted in 8,650 deaths.
We at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta urge you to be proactive about your skin protection. Make sure you are practicing safe sun habits and come in regularly for mole checks by a board certified dermatologist. We guarantee it will help you in the long run!
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