If you’ve suddenly noticed your skin breaking out in a red, itchy rash, you could be dealing with dermatitis, a common skin condition that often leads to a red, swollen rash, or dry and intensely itchy skin. Sometimes dermatitis can even cause oozing or scaling blisters to form. This condition may be embarrassing but don’t worry—it isn’t contagious.

The most common types of dermatitis include:

• Contact dermatitis: occurs when an allergen comes in contact with your skin
• Eczema or atopic dermatitis: most commonly inherited
• Dyshidrotic dermatitis: often appears on the hands and feet
• Seborrheic dermatitis: a type of dermatitis that often affects the scalp (dandruff)

The causes really depend on the type of dermatitis you have. For example, contact dermatitis occurs when you come in contact with an allergen such as certain detergents, poison ivy, or nickel. Eczema most often runs in families and occurs more frequently in those with allergies or asthma.

With dermatitis, it is common to experience flare-ups with bouts of remission. Common symptom triggers include environmental or hormonal changes, stress, or certain irritants (e.g. new detergents; perfumes).

Since the symptoms of dermatitis are similar to other skin conditions, it is important to see a dermatologist for a proper diagnosis. Some types of dermatitis can be diagnosed through a simple physical exam; however, if your dermatologist believes that your symptoms are due to an allergic reaction, then allergy testing may be necessary to determine what’s causing your dermatitis.

Those with mild symptoms may find relief through over-the-counter antihistamines and topical creams to stop itching and redness; however, a dermatologist can create a customized treatment plan based on the type of dermatitis you are dealing with and your symptoms. Along with home care (e.g. oatmeal baths; cold compresses) and over-the-counter medications, a dermatologist may also prescribe stronger antihistamines, topical steroids, or oral medication to ease more serious flare-ups.

Your dermatologist can also discuss ways to prevent flare-ups including treating and preventing dry skin, using a proper moisturizer, and implementing necessary dietary changes. Some patients also find that alternative therapies such as acupuncture or massage therapy help reduce the number and severity of flare-ups.

If you are experiencing symptoms of dermatitis, it is important that you see your dermatologist right away for care. The sooner you seek treatment the sooner you will experience relief.

Tattoo removal has become one of aesthetic and medical dermatology's most sought-after services. Read on to learn about how this treatment works.

The procedure

Dermatologists mostly use Q-switched, or quality-switched, laser instruments for tattoo removal. Short, focused bursts of light break up the tattoo pigment that lies embedded in skin. With repeated treatments, the pigment particles eventually clear the body, and the tattoo lightens or fades away completely. Your skin doctor will tailor your treatments to your skin and to your tattoo.

Skin doctors find that older tattoos composed of darker hues such as brown or green respond best to laser removal. Colors such as red or yellow are more easily retained and may not fade completely.

These treatments are best performed by a board-certified dermatologist who will examine your skin and your tattoo, review your medical history, and give you the safest and most effective treatment options available.

The American Society for Aesthetic Surgery reports that skin doctors performed more than 45,000 tattoo removal procedures in 2013, and those numbers continue to rise. In just a few treatments, many patients experience complete erasure of their body artwork.

After your tattoo removal

As you may have some blistering, bleeding, and swelling after your laser removal procedure, you must treat your skin gently afterward. Keep the area clean and dry to avoid infection.

Additional aftercare involves:

• Avoiding sun exposure
• Keeping the treated skin covered
• Wearing loose clothing over the tattoo site
• Applying antibiotic ointment or cream as directed

If you want a tattoo removed...

See your board-certified dermatologist for a personalized consultation. They have the credentials, skill, and tools to do the job safely and effectively. Call your skin doctor today to find out more about removing tattoos.

Hair isn't always the most appealing feature on someone's body, especially if we're referring to hair on the underarms, back, legs, and arms. Fortunately, Dr. Linda Banta of Stone Oak Dermatology in San Antonio, TX, provides her patients with a solution: laser hair removal.

More about Laser Hair Removal

Are you sick of shaving, tweezing, or waxing hair? Your dermatologist can understand the time and pain it takes to rid yourself of unwanted hair, and that's why she offers this treatment option.

The laser beams light into hair follicles. Pigments (melanin) absorbs the emitted light and converts the light energy to heat, damaging the follicles. This damage inhibits hair growth and destroys the hair when the treatment is repeated.

Prior to the treatment, avoid plucking or waxing hair about six weeks in advance since the laser targets roots. During the procedure, you'll be wearing an eye protector and a cold gel or cooling device that will ease discomfort and enable light penetrating skin.

Avoid sun exposure for about six weeks after the procedure and ask your dermatologist about pain medication if you're worried.

Benefits of Laser Hair Removal

• Laser hair removal eliminates hair from the legs, chin, back, arm, underarm, bikini line, and other areas.
• This is an efficient and precise treatment option that targets dark, coarse hairs, without damaging the surrounding skin.
• Hair removal is a fast process—each pulse takes a fraction of a second and destroys several follicles all at once, which may take up to an hour.
• Treatments are approximately six sessions in order to properly destroy hair follicles during different hair cycles.
• You can put all that waxing and tweezing behind. You'll save both time and money, and won't have to worry about those dreaded razor burns if you shave.

Consulting a Dermatologist

If you'd like to learn more about laser hair removal, then don't hesitate to speak with Dr. Linda Banta of Stone Oak Dermatology in San Antonio, TX, by giving her a call at 210-494-0504.

WarmSculpting with SculpSure is an exciting method for eliminating unwanted body fat. This body contouring treatment is safe, painless, and non-invasive, with no downtime after the procedure. Led by Dr. Linda Banta, your friendly and experienced dermatologist, we here at Stone Oak Dermatology in San Antonio, TX, can help you decide if WarmSculpting with SculpSure is the right option for you.

What is SculpSure?

SculpSure is a body contouring procedure that utilizes laser energy to remove stubborn fat cells through a process called WarmSculpting. SculpSure is a non-invasive, painless, and safe alternative to liposuction for reducing body fat. It takes less than 30 minutes to safely and effectively target troublesome areas where stubborn fat exists. The SculpSure laser energy system is strategically directed at the desired treatment areas. Heat from the laser promotes the release of fat cells from fatty tissue, enabling the body to eliminate those fat cells on its own. It also treats submental fat - double chin.

Advantages of WarmSculpting with SculpSure

WarmSculpting with SculpSure offers numerous advantages over other body contouring procedures. For example, liposuction involves an invasive surgical procedure that is painful and can be risky for some patients. WarmSculpting with SculpSure is a safer option that is completely effective, non-invasive, and pain-free.

In addition to being both painless and non-surgical, other advantages of WarmSculpting with SculpSure are that the procedure is FDA approved and requires no anesthesia. Furthermore, there is also little to no downtime after treatment. Normal activities can continue immediately. Additionally, the SculpSure laser energy system produces collagen and elastin, which help skin appear firmer and more youthful.

Interested? Give our San Antonio Office a Call

WarmSculpting with SculpSure can help you achieve a leaner-looking body by eliminating unwanted fat safely. To learn more about this body contouring method, visit our office in San Antonio. You can schedule an appointment with Dr. Banta by calling Stone Oak Dermatology at (210) 494-0504.

Anyone who has ever walked through the skincare aisle of their local drugstore knows that there are tons of acne-fighting products on the market. So, which one is right for you? Should you opt for an acne cleanser or spot treatment, or both? Choosing the right acne treatment can be challenging, to say the least.

While acne is a common problem among teenagers, many people don’t just leave acne behind the minute they toss out those graduation caps. In fact, many adults well into their 20s, 30s and beyond still deal with regular acne outbreaks. So, how do you properly treat acne? There is no singular way to treat acne and the best treatment option for you and your skin will depend on the cause. While you might not know what’s to blame for your acne symptoms a dermatologist certainly can help.

Treating Acne on Your Own

If you are dealing with mild to moderate acne, look for products that contain these powerful acne-fighting ingredients:

• Salicylic acid
• Benzoyl peroxide
• Glycolic acid
• Sulfur
• Retinol

How a Dermatologist Treats Acne

If you’ve tried over-the-counter acne products for more than 12 weeks and aren’t seeing results, or if you are experiencing severe, deep or cystic acne then it’s time to turn to a skin care professional for help. The first thing your dermatologist will do is determine the cause of your acne. From there, one or more of these treatments may be recommended:

Prescription topical medications: Certain topical medications act as an anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory, which reduces redness and inflammation associated with acne while also removing acne-causing bacteria from the surface of the skin.

A simple extraction: You should never pick at your acne or try to pop a pimple on your own, as you could end up causes further irritation or scarring; however, a dermatologist knows the safest and most effective techniques for extracting blackheads and whiteheads safely.

Birth control pills: For women who notice breakouts that correspond to their menstrual cycle, certain birth control pills may be able to reduce the amount of androgen hormones, which in turn can reduce breakouts. Talk to your dermatologist about the birth control pills that are FDA approved to treat acne.

Isotretinoin: This is an extremely intense oral retinoid that is used for treating severe, cystic acne that isn’t responsive to other treatment options. Isotretinoin is better known as Accutane, and this treatment can take up to nine months to see full results. Some patients will require multiple courses of treatment. Due to the nature of this strong medication, there are some possible side effects. It is important to discuss these side effects with your dermatologist before beginning Isotretinoin.

If you are having trouble getting your acne under control it’s important that you have a dermatologist that you can turn to for customized care. Take control of your acne once and for all.