Media

Fresh Meadows Center Uses Laser to Treat Skin Diseases

By Francesca Kefalas

The Advanced Dermatology P.C. and The Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery Skin Laser Center in Fresh Meadows recently celebrated an open house for what it calls the most Advanced Dermatology P.C. and The Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery operation in Queens and one of the most progressive in the New York City area.

Dr. Joshua Fox said the center has seven lasers that are used for dermatological care, more than any of the hospitals and medical centers in Queens and most of the medical facilities in Manhattan.

“You really need to have many lasers for many purposes,” Fox said.

Different lasers are better for different purposes, Fox said.

“The trick is to know which things are treated best by the different lasers,” Fox said. Each laser has its pros and cons.

Lasers are being used to remove warts, port wine stains, age spots and other skin discolorations, Fox said. He said although some of these conditions are cosmetic and do not cause physical problems, they can cause emotional stress.

“It can affect people’s lives,” said Fox, who pointed out that a skin disease can be more debilitating in some ways than other kinds of illnesses.

“It’s immediately noticeable,” he said.

Fox said he has treated teenagers who believe they have severe acne and won’t leave the house. Yet, he said, their acne is not severe in medical terms, but severe psychologically.

Fox said lasers have also been extremely effective in removing tattoos. He and the other doctors who work at the skin laser center have been trying to develop the procedure for removing stretch marks, which they can eliminate at this point.

“We’re not just doing cases,” Fox said. “Were making observations and contributing to the research.”

The doctors also have been working on ways to treat children that are not as frightening as conventional methods. He said often a doctor will first show the child what procedure will be done on a doll.

Fox works with a host of other doctors, many of whom have specialties. The doctors have three offices: the one in Fresh Meadows at 58-47 188th St., one in Roslyn and one in Commack. He said there are about seven doctors who work out of the Fresh Meadows office.

The Fresh Meadows office has the most lasers, but all of the offices have lasers, Fox said, The lasers can cost more than $100000 a piece. Despite the cost of the lasers, Fox said he strongly believes in using them for dermatological procedures.

“Its the wave of the present,’ Fox said, “It’s not the future.”

For centuries, skin-care manufacturers have primarily dealt with beauty from the outside. But now a growing number of cosmetic brands — including Olay and Avon — are rolling out new products promoting the idea that what consumers ingest can have just as big an effect on the healthfulness of their skin and the luster of their appearance as anything external they may apply. (more…)

Biting Fingernails linked to lead poisoning in polluted regions
Russian children in contaminated towns show psychological development delays as result

EKATERINBURG, RUSSIA-Not only is fingernail biting a bad habit, but it may also contribute to lead poisoning, said research physicians here at the Ural Regional Centre for Environmental Epidemiology. (more…)

PROTECT YOUR KIDS WITH SUNBLOCK

Health Notes

Advanced Dermatology PC, April 2003 -Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. More cases of skin cancer are diagnosed per year than lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer combined. More than one million Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in 2003. (more…)

Tidbits to Remember For Tattoo Removal
 

By Joshua L. Fox, M.D

Make sure your patient has realistic expectations and understands the number of treatments, healing time, percent improvement expected, cost, risk, benefit, alternate treatments, etc. Photographs and consent forms are strongly advised.

Patients with Fitzpatrick types V and VI can now be treated effectively, albeit with extra precautions and protocols. Aggressive use of Hydroquinone or one of the newer Hydroquinone compounds together with sunscreens and pre-and post-treatment sun avoidance lessens the risk of post-inflammatory pigmentation. (more…)

What Dermatologists Need to Know about Laser Removal of Tattoos

The dermatologic laser surgeon’s ability to treat tattoos continues to improve. Lasers and their protocols have changed dramatically from the days when my personal dermatologist and the “father of Dermatologic Lasers,” Dr. Leon Goldman, was working with the Q-switched ruby laser for tattoo removal. There are now a number of laser choices to consider, each with its own positives and negatives. (more…)

When Doctors Disagree

If your child is diagnosed with a chronic condition, your pediatrician may recommend that she see a specialist. But what do you do if the doctors disagree on the course of treatment? (more…)

Sun, Wind, and Snow. Winter Weather Can Be Rough On Your Skin

February 27, 2003-Roslyn, NY-Now is the perfect time to keep your skin healthy all winter long. Falling temperatures and brisk winds outside, together with dry heat inside, makes for an ever-changing environment that can create a variety of skin problems. (more…)

When Doctors Disagree

If your child is diagnosed with a chronic condition, your pediatrician may recommend that she see a specialist. But what do you do if the doctors disagree on the course of treatment?

Understand what is being recommended. “What patient’s interpret as a difference of opinion is often a nuance,” says Joshua Fox, M.D., director of Advanced Dermatology P.C. and The Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery a skin care center with offices in Roslyn, Commack, and West Islip.

Don’t get frustrated. “The worst thing a parent can do is throw their hands up in disgust and do nothing,” says Maurice Chianese, M.D., chief of pediatrics at PRoHEALTH Care Associates, LLP in Lake Success.

“Communicate. Ask the doctors to speak to one another,” he says. “Find out why they believe what they believe.”

Know where each doctor is coming from. Pediatricians will be familiar with dynamics in a family that a specialist might not be. But a specialist may know more about the condition. “He’ll know new courses of treatments and medications and their side effects that a pediatrician may not be aware of,” says Dr. Fox.

Try another source. Get a third opinion. If you’re in an emergency situation, Dr. Chianese says, get the opinion of a doctor on staff at the hospital.

By Jason Applebaum, MD

I don’t want my tattoo anymore
Removing tattoo’s today

Advanced Dermatology , February 2003-More people than ever are getting tattoos today. A quick look at any professional basketball game will show that more than half the players have tattoos. It has been estimated that approximately 3% of the U.S. population now has tattoos. Getting a tattoo today offers people greater range in colors than ever before. (more…)

Choose the Right Laser to Fight Wrinkles
News USA

(NU) – If you have worked hard to protect your skin from wrinkles, you might be frustrated when they begin to appear. Although you can’t stop the clock, laser techniques are available to help maintain your youthful look.

If you are looking for an anti-aging solution, the first step is to find the best procedure for your needs. Sometimes, several different procedures are combined depending on your skin and personal goals. (more…)

What’s New in Dermatology Drugs?

ATOPIC DERMATITIS/ECZEMA

Besides psoriasis, drugs such as Amevive and Raptiva, suggests Dr. Leonardi, may find a place in treating other chronic inflammatory disorders, such as atopic dermatitis. Once the drugs are used for psoriasis, you’re likely to see them used elsewhere, and chronic eczema will be one of the first paces. (more…)