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.

Do you have a mole? Chances are good that you have few of them, actually. The average person has around 30-40 moles, and while moles are usually nothing to worry about it is important to be able to spot any changes that could be warning signs of skin cancer. That’s why you should perform self-exams every month to check the state of your moles. Just because they could be harmless doesn’t mean you should ignore them.

A mole that develops after the age of 30, a mole that bleeds or a changing mole could be a sign of melanoma, a deadly form of skin cancer. This is why it’s important to check your moles regularly. When found early, melanoma is highly treatable. When it comes to pinpointing melanoma your dermatologist may teach you about the ABCDE's of skin cancer:

Asymmetry: If you were to draw a line down the middle of a mole both sides would be completely symmetrical; however, an asymmetrical mole could be a sign of melanoma.

Border: Melanoma is more likely to produce growths that have jagged or poorly defined edges.

Color: Healthy moles are usually a single color, while melanoma will often contain different colors or dark spots.

Diameter: Most healthy moles are smaller than a pencil eraser. If you notice that one or more moles are getting bigger you should speak to your dermatologist.

Evolution: Moles stay relatively the same over time; therefore, if you notice any changes to the size, color, shape, or texture then it’s time to consult with a skincare professional.

Of course, melanoma isn’t the only type of skin cancer to be on the lookout for. The two most common types of non-melanoma skin cancers include basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. Basal cell carcinomas often present as waxy-looking pale bumps on the skin, often on the head or neck, while squamous cells feel like firm nodules that may be smooth at first but become scaly.

Even if you aren’t noticing changes in your moles it’s still a good idea to schedule a skin cancer screening with your dermatologist once a year. Those at an increased risk for skin cancer may want to discuss coming in more often for exams. This exam is non invasive and could just save your life. If you’ve never had a skin cancer screening before it’s high time that you scheduled one.

Excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis, can be an annoying, embarrassing condition to deal with. Perspiring is normal, but hyperhidrosis is characterized by excessive sweating when your body doesn’t need to be cooled down.

One of the most common ways to tell whether you have hyperhidrosis is if one or two areas of your body are very sweaty, but the rest of your body is dry. Some common areas to experience hyperhidrosisinclude your head, feet, palms of your hands, and your underarms.

If you are experiencing excessive sweating, there are ways to minimize the impact. Consider trying these easy remedies:

• Changing to antiperspirant, not deodorant
• Using armpit shields to help absorb perspiration
• Wearing loose clothing made of natural fibers like cotton
• Changing your socks at least twice during the day
• Wearing black and white clothing to reduce signs of sweating
• Limiting or avoiding alcohol and spicy foods because they can worsen sweating

For moderate to severe cases of hyperhidrosis that aren’t managed well with conservative home therapies, it’s best to visit your dermatologist. There are several effective treatments for excessive sweating your dermatologist may recommend, including:

• Prescription antiperspirant products containing aluminum chloride
• Iontophoresis, which uses a weak electrical current to block the sweat glands from producing sweat; treatments are completely pain-free and take 20 to 30 minutes per treatment. 2 to 4 treatments per week are recommended with maintenance treatments every 1 to 4 weeks.
• Botox injections, which help to reduce sweating; injections of botox are given into areas affected. Botox typically requires 15 to 20 injections and takes 30 to 45 minutes. The effects of injections can last for a few months and Botox treatment can be repeated if necessary.

Excessive sweating can disrupt your life, hampering your self-confidence. You can get relief from excessive sweating from your dermatologist. To find out more about treatment for excessive sweating, and other medical and cosmetic skincare treatments, talk with your dermatologist today!