Ask DAA: I Take Good Care of My Face, but Now I’m Noticing Skin Problems Elsewhere…What’s Up?
When people think of skincare, their first (and often only) thought is of the face. After all, in terms of aging, our faces are where the changes tend to be most prominent, so that’s where we typically focus our efforts. But many of our patients get frustrated when, although they keep their facial skin in good shape, they notice skin problems popping up on other areas of their bodies. Today, we’re taking a closer look at some of the most common cosmetic body skin issues that adults struggle with.
Body Acne
While most people think of acne as being the scourge of their teenage years, it’s not uncommon for adults to have the unpleasant surprise of new breakouts throughout their lives, and this can happen on essentially any part of the body. Just as when you were younger, acne in adults is caused when your pores are affected by dead skin cells, sebum (your skin’s natural oil), or bacteria. Hormonal changes can be a factor for both men and women, and for women, this is especially true during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause. Fortunately, we offer several ways to effectively treat both facial and body acne, including antibiotics for acne, Isolaz™ (combining pore extraction with light therapy to kill bacteria), customized prescription topical medications, and more, depending on your specific type of acne.
Spider Veins
You may have found a great anti-aging skincare routine for your face, but when spider veins begin to appear throughout your legs, they can instantly tack a few years onto your appearance. While they’re stereotyped as being a problem for older men and women, spider veins can affect people of any age and gender, and they’re impacted by your genetics, vein health, hormones, sun exposure, occupation, and lifestyle choices (exercise, long periods of standing or sitting, etc). Luckily, treatments are generally effective and minimally invasive, whether you’re an ideal candidate for sclerotherapy, VeinWave™, laser treatments (similar to those we use to treat facial veins), or simply compression stockings.
Unwanted Body Hair
Especially during our middle-aged years, most of us have a love-hate relationship with hair…we want more of it in some areas and less of it in others. While your genetics play a strong role in the amount of excess hair you have, you may also experience changes later in life. Underlying health issues can cause you to develop more hair than you used to have, as can hormonal changes like an increase in testosterone. Whether you’ve see a sudden change in your amount of unwanted hair or you’ve simply gotten tired of spending so much time, money, and energy on shaving and waxing, hair removal can be an excellent solution. If you have darker hair, laser hair removal may be your best bet, but electrolysis is typically a better fit if you have lighter hair (like blond or gray).
Excessive Sweating
Unnecessary sweating is a vastly undertreated cosmetic issue, possibly because so many patients don’t realize that it CAN be treated. While excessive sweating (or hyperhidrosis) often begins during your childhood or teen years, it can start or worsen at any age. Genetics often plays a role, as can underlying medical conditions, but regardless of the cause, our miraDry® sweat reduction treatments have an excellent track record of success. The procedure is only available for the underarms, but many patients have seen a underarm sweat reduction of 80% after just one treatment, while some require two to three sessions. But if miraDry® isn’t for you, we also offer a variety of other treatment options, like Botox® injections as well as Drysol and other topical medications.
It’s important to remember that everyone’s skin is unique and we all have different cosmetic and dermatological concerns, so what has worked wonders for a friend or family member may be ineffective or even unhealthy for you. That’s why it’s best to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta (DAA) as your first step. It’s a perfect opportunity for us to examine your skin, discuss your concerns, and recommend a treatment plan that’s tailored to your specific needs. For more great skincare tips and information about all the services we have to offers, follow DAA on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.
One of the most well-known ways to achieve lasting hair removal is with laser treatments, and yes, this procedure is affected by the color of your hair. The laser light is attracted to and absorbed by the pigment in your hair, which allows the laser’s energy to travel down the hair and into the follicle. That energy damages the targeted follicle, making future hair growth difficult or impossible. Traditionally, 
After earning her Bachelor’s Degree from Troy State University in Alabama, Jan pursued her passion of helping others feel confident in their appearance by graduation from the International Center for the Study of Electrology. Ever striving to further improve her skills, Jan left Alabama and joined DAA in 1992. As a member of the International Guild of Professional Electrologists, the American Society of Laser Medicine & Surgery (ASLMS), and the Society for Clinical & Medicinal Hair Removal (SCMHR), Jan specializes in effectively removing unwanted hair through various treatments, including a procedure called electrolysis. During this procedure, electrical currents are sent into each hair follicle in order to prevent the hair from re-growing. Through the years, newer methods and technologies for 
How does laser hair removal work?
