SkinCare Physicians Blog offers insights on the latest in medical and surgical dermatology, cosmetic and laser medicine, as well as aesthetics. All of our internationally recognized physicians and some members of our staff contribute to the Skincare Physicians Blog.
We often hear that the difference between major surgery and minor surgery is if it is happening to you or to someone else. In the case of Mohs surgery for skin cancer, that say should not apply. Here is why… More than three million people in the United States are diagnosed with skin cancer each year. That is more than all other cancers combined. In fact, one out of every five Americans will develop skin cancer within their lifetime. Fortunately, more than 90% of skin cancers are easily curable. The most common forms of skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma … Continue reading »
You’ve gotten your acne under control and now you are ready to get rid of the acne scars. What are your options? Depending on the type and severity of acne scar, there is a variety of treatments that can help. Skin discoloration from acne Brown discoloration from acne usually goes away on its own, but sometimes it can take a while. To speed things up, these brown spots can be lightened with daily topical application of bleaching agents such as hydroquinone or kojic acid. It’s important not to forget to apply sunscreen with an SPF 30 regularly to avoid these … Continue reading »
Every three years, SkinCare Physicians (SCP) undergoes a rigorous process of preparing for accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). AAAHC Accreditation is an external, independent process of evaluating a healthcare organization’s policies, procedures, processes and outcomes against nationally-recognized standards. This accreditation is important as health care quality issues are gaining prominence in both public and professional arenas. In May 2013, following an in-depth, 194 page self-assessment, SCP went through a thorough two day, on-site review by two AAAHC expert surveyors. The surveyors reviewed every operational area of SCP including: Rights of Patients Governance Credentialing Administration Quality … Continue reading »
When seeing patients, lots of questions arise about sun safety. Given our long winters and lack of year-round warmth, patients often have a lot of questions about indoor tanning. They wonder about things such as: Is there such thing as a healthy tan? Isn’t indoor tanning safer because you can control the time you are exposed to the lights? Isn’t it better to get a “base” tan rather than to burn in the sun? How much can really happen if I am just going tanning once in a while? Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a healthy tan. “Base” … Continue reading »
Over the Fourth-of-July weekend, most of us will be participating in outdoors activities and joining summer festivities. With outside fun comes the risk of scraped knees, dermatitis, insect bites or heat rash. Here are four rescue tips for summer skin emergencies, so you and your family can enjoy a safe and worry-free holiday. #1 Road Rash Kids and grownups alike are hopping on their bikes, buckling on their skates, and even bouncing around on pogo sticks! With all of this activity comes the inevitable dangers of tumbles, bumps, and bruises and scrapes. Your holiday rescue: The first step in dealing … Continue reading »
The problem of effectively treating hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, has received increasing attention over the last two years. As physicians, we knew that it was a problem for our patients, but I don’t think we understood the following: First, how big of a problem it was for people who suffered from hyperhidrosis. Statistics show that as many as 20 percent of the population is adversely affected in a way that people would seek medical care. Second, how much in demand treatment for excessive sweating would be. I was recently interviewed by the American Society for Lasers in Medicine & Surgery … Continue reading »
With summer here, it is more important than ever to be lathering up with sun protection every time you leave the house. With so many sunscreens out there, it is hard to know which one is right for you. The key is to choose a sunscreen that you will use and that offers the following characteristics: Broad spectrum (protecting you from both UVA and UVB rays) SPF 30 or higher Water resistant Below are a few recommendations for sunscreens based on your own skin and its needs. #1 Brown spots or melasma – Use a sunscreen that not only blocks … Continue reading »
Thermage has been used for over a decade to tighten skin of the lower face and jaw line, producing a more youthful and natural look. Now scientists have discovered that Thermage can also prevent aging. Based on experience with patients treated every one to two years, we have observed that those patients appear to age more slowly than those who have Thermage only once every 4 to 5 years, or don’t have any treatment at all. We know that patients start to appear older at 5 to 10 year increments, which was the original theory behind the timing between Thermage … Continue reading »
People participate in dermatology research for several reasons. Some hope to get the most advanced treatment available for dermatological conditions or illnesses. Others participate because they want to assist scientists in developing better ways to help and treat people. In the Clinical Studies Center at SkinCare Physicians near Boston, we see on average over one hundred volunteers every year. Research is our best hope for understanding and treating many dermatological conditions. Thanks to volunteers’ help, medical researchers are learning more and more about the causes of many disorders, and are finding new ways to treat and prevent illnesses. Without this … Continue reading »
Chances are if you have had an appointment at SkinCare Physicians you have met with some members of the nursing staff. The staff consists of many dedicated hard working individuals, each one bringing a unique mix of skills to the group. SkinCare Physicians employs a total of 28 on the nursing staff including 16 registered nurses, 2 licensed practical nurses, 7 medical assistants, 1 full time surgical scheduler and 2 prior authorization coordinators. Their roles vary from phone triage, medical care and education, surgical assistance and independent operation, to working with insurance companies to have necessary medications approved. All members … Continue reading »
