Dermatology Associates of Atlanta‘s Drs. Griffin, Karempelis, and Curtis were featured in Jezebel Magazine‘s October Who’s Who issue on newsstands now! For more information on DAA and our doctors or to schedule an appointment, contact us! You can also connect with us on Facebook and Twitter for more news and updates.
Dermatology is an all-encompassing field of medicine including treatment and maintenance of the skin, hair, and nails. In an effort to honor the “toe” portion of our promise to provide “head to toe skin care”, Dermatology Associates of Atlanta would like to warn you about a recent development surrounding the popular Ugg® boots, and how they could be contributing to foot fungus. People buy Uggs® because they are warm and cozy, but wearing them all the time, especially without socks, may compromise health in the long run.
Many Ugg® wearers habitually forego wearing socks. The wool lining is nice and warm without socks, right? While they may seem warm enough, foot fungus is more prevalent without socks because the boot’s wool interior and thick suede exterior will make feet sweat. Without socks to help wick the sweat, the wool absorbs and holds the moisture (providing the perfect environment for fungus formation and bacteria growth). Without a barrier to protect the wearer’s foot, they are then exposed to the bacteria and possible funguses in the shoe’s interior with every subsequent use.
The most common type of foot fungus is athlete’s feet, which is caused by a fungus called Trichophyton. Some other skin conditions of the feet may include: contact dermatitis, allergic reaction, eczema, psoriasis, yeast infections, toenail fungus, or bacterial infections. As previously stated, the fungus and bacteria that cause these conditions usually grow in warm, dark, and moist places. Because these conditions are easy to create, socks are a worthwhile investment.
DAA does not blame the makers of Uggs® for their comfortable boots causing foot fungus. In fact, the skin conditions mentioned above can happen in any shoe if feet are not properly protected. Our dermatologists suggest always wearing socks, and not wearing footwear that doesn’t allow feet to breathe for long periods of time. If you’ve been experiencing foot conditions such as redness, rash, scaling, itching, cracked skin, or thick and discolored toenails it’s a good idea to seek medical attention to determine the proper treatment method.
For more information about the services we provide and our specialty centers, visit our website. Stay up to date on dermatology news and specials by continuing to read the blog.
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.
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 liposuction, facial rejuvenation, facial fillers, and dermal injectables are offered in our cosmetic surgery center. Our surgical procedures are performed in our state-of-the-art 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.
• 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.
• The Surgical Suite: Our 2000 square-foot state-of-the-art outpatient center is 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.
LeAnn Rimes has been a popular country music singer in the media spotlight since the age of 9 – but what most people don’t know is that Rimes has been a psoriasis sufferer for even longer. Diagnosed at 2 years old, Rimes has had to actively manage her psoriasis because of her career; and is now partnering with the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) to encourage others to do the same.
The awareness campaign, called “Stop Hiding From Psoriasis”, asks psoriasis sufferers to take a stand by pledging to better manage their disease with the help of dermatologists. They are asked to go online and make an official pledge at www.StopHiding.org. The “Stop Hiding From Psoriasis” campaign hopes to not only raise awareness of the disease to non-sufferers, but to help sufferers to better understand their disease and to be proactive about getting effective treatment.
According to the AAD and the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriasis affects about 7 million Americans. Symptoms include scaly areas of skin or red flaky skin that can itch or burn and are most commonly found on the elbows, knees, scalp, and torso.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta (DAA) are experts in the treatment of the disease and have a specialized, in-house Psoriasis Treatment Center. In addition to traditional topical treatments, DAA also has a PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser, the newest FDA approved laser light procedure that targets the specific areas affected by psoriasis with a concentrated beam of UV light. If you have psoriasis and would like to learn more about your treatment options, schedule a consultation with one of our board certified dermatologists today.
We Dermatology Associates of Atlanta support any campaign that encourages people to be proactive about their skin health. We are happy to do anything we can to help psoriasis sufferers better manage their disease and fulfill their ‘Stop Hiding’ pledge.
Dermatology Associates of Atlanta are excited and proud to introduce the PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser, the newest laser available for the treatment of psoriasis. The PHAROS Excimer laser will replace the XTRAC Excimer laser as our most effective and longest lasting laser psoriasis treatment yet.
The PHAROS Excimer laser works through a handheld device that emits concentrated beams of UV light. Using targeted technology, the UV light specifically treats the psoriatic lesions, and leaves any surrounding, health skin and tissue unaffected. Because of the maneuverability and precision of the device, the PHAROS Excimer is effective in the treatment of the most hard-to-treat areas, such as the hand, feet, elbows, knees and even scalp!
PHAROS Excimer laser treatments are completely painless and only take a few minutes to perform. Most treatment plans require sessions 2 times a week for 4 to 6 weeks. Many patients will experience clearing of psoriasis symptoms in 10 or fewer treatments, with remission results lasting several months.
Visit our website for more information on psoriasis or the PHAROS Excimer laser. If you suffer from psoriasis, PHAROS Excimer could be the solution, so schedule an appointment with one of our board certified dermatologists to see if it is the right treatment for you.
Patients suffering from psoriasis often feel a diminished level in their quality of life. They know that treatments for this condition are difficult to apply, expensive, and frequently ineffective. Oral medicines alone usually have toxic side effects. Topical steroids provide only temporary relief. The condition is not life-threatening, but when patients are embarrassed to be seen in public due to it, they will hunt high and low for a cure. Fortunately, the Psoriasis Treatment Center at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, originally opened by Dr. Edmond Griffin, brings an option that may benefit all those suffering from psoriasis: the Excimer Laser system, the latest in technology for treating psoriasis.
Unlike other lasers of its kind, the PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser uses narrow, concentrated beams of UV light, so that it can treat the specific affected area without affecting other, healthy parts of the body. Because the bandwidth of this laser is so narrow, the Excimer laser can treat more hard-to-reach areas like the hands and feet. The PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser can even effectively treat the most hard- to-treat area of the body: the scalp. By applying special oil to the scalp, the PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser can target the psoriasis without affecting the surrounding hair! PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser treatments only take a couple of minutes and most patients will see an improvement or disappearance of damaged skin after just 6 to 10 treatments; and unlike other Psoriasis treatments, Excimer laser does not carry the drawbacks of premature aging of healthy skin, skin thinning, or resistance to medication.
Psoriasis is a more common condition than one might think – affecting about 7.5 million Americans (according to The National Psoriasis Foundation). The most common form of psoriasis, affecting about 80 percent of patients, is called plaque psoriasis and is characterized by patches of red, inflamed, and slightly raised skin. The affected skin is oftentimes covered with silvery scales and is found most typically around the elbows, knees, and lower back. Other types of psoriasis include Guttate (small red spots on the skin, mostly on the limbs), Inverse (smooth, red patches of skin normally found in skin folds like armpits, around the groin, and under the breasts), pustular (white blisters filled with pus and surrounded by red skin that eventually scales over), and erythrodermic (larger areas of skin covering much of the body that experiences episodes of severe pain, itching, and skin shedding).
Because psoriasis is a chronic condition, patients will never be completely rid of it. However, effective treatments using the PHAROS EX-308 Excimer Laser, like the one available at the Psoriasis Treatment Center at Dermatology Associates of Atlanta, can make the symptoms disappear more completely and for longer periods of time.
