Best Preventative Anti-aging Product Available

As a Dermatology office, we are frequently asked “what is the best anti-aging product?” The truth is simple… it’s sunscreen!

While the natural aging process will occur and cause loss of collagen in our skin, UV damage will most certainly cause the skin to age more quickly.  The sun and other UV sources such as tanning beds produce both UV-A and UV-B rays.

•      UV-B rays are responsible for tanning/burning of the skin , and may lead to skin cancer. 
•        UV-B only penetrates the epidermis (very top layer of skin).    

•    UV-A deeply penetrates the skin in the dermis and causes the breakdown of collagen. Collagen is what gives our skin its support and youthful elasticity. UV-A induced breakdown is what can lead to wrinkly and leathery skin. 

Some interesting facts about UV-A (Aging rays) to make you think twice about applying your sunscreen daily.

• UV-A is the same strength year round 
• You don’t feel this UV ray as heat, and temperature does not dictate the amount of UV radiation being emitted.
• 99% of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth's surface is UV-A
• Up to 40 percent of the sun's UV radiation reaches the earth on a cloudy day.
• Car windows can block approximately 97% of UV-B rays, but UV-A rays are only          blocked - out by 37%. 

You are getting UV-A exposure anytime the sun is out.  Any time of day, and any day of the year. UV-damage does not show up as sunburn, and will silently age your skin. While it is most important to get the first application on in the morning, it is also important to reapply if you know you will have longer periods of exposure. There are many choices for a great broad spectrum sunscreen that will protect against damaging UV-A and UV-B rays. Ask one of our knowledgeable staff members about these products during your next visit and Florida Skin Center

Why the Sun Causes Skin Cancer

  Everyone has heard that too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer, but have you ever wondered why?

  1 in 5 people will be diagnosed with a skin cancer during their lifetime. UV light that comes from the sun and tanning beds are the main risk factor for developing skin cancer.
The two types of Ultra Violet radiation are UVA and UVB. Both of these UV rays penetrate the skin and cause damage to the underlying cells.

  UVA can penetrate more deeply in the skin causing damage to the normal genetics of our cells. This affects not only skin cells that can lead to cancer, but also breaks down the support structures in our skin. UVA leads to premature aging and wrinkling.

  UVB penetrates less deep, into the top layer of the skin causing damage to the cells there. The pain you feel when sunburned is actually the body’s response in attempt to repair the damage.  UVB causes cumulative damage to the DNA in our skin cells. While the body is good at repairing itself when damage occurs, some abnormal cells may be left behind. Over time damage to the genetic material can cause uncontrolled growth of these abnormal cells, resulting in skin cancer.

You can protect yourself by:

• Use a broad spectrum sunscreen (protects against UVA and UVB rays.) Use a sunscreen with a   SPF or sun protective factor of at least 30. Reapply approximately 1oz of sunscreen every 2                 hours.

• If using a spray sunscreen, MAKE SURE TO RUB IT IN.

• Limit sun exposure during hours when the UV rays are the strongest, between 10AM and 4 PM

• Wear protective clothing, sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat.

• Avoid tanning beds

• Have an annual skin exam performed by a dermatologist.

• Do self-skin exams, using the ABCDE's every month, and look for new or changing moles.

Diabetes Related Skin Disorders

  Diabetes is a disease that affects a person’s blood sugars. This is due to either the body not producing enough insulin, or ineffectively using the insulin to help clear the sugars from the bloodstream. Diabetes can affect a person’s entire body if not controlled well with diet and/or medications.  The American Diabetes Association states, “As many as 1/3 of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives.”
 
  The skin can sometimes give the first clue that someone is having a problem with insulin resistance and may have diabetes. A skin condition called Acanthosis Nigricans is an area of skin that is darker and thicker that is most commonly seen around the neck, under the axillae, or in the groin. Some describe it as their skin looks dirty, but it won’t wash off. The discoloration usually improves with improved control of the blood sugars as well as weight reduction.

   People with diabetes often have dry skin due increased blood glucose(sugar) levels. Dry skin can lead to itching and scratching of the areas and increase risk of infection. It is important for diabetics to keep their skin moisturized daily with a gentle moisturizer. Diabetes also significantly increases a person’s risk of bacterial and fungal infections ,and slows wound healing. High blood sugars over time can lower a person’s immunity and can also affect the blood vessels necessary for healing wounds. If there are any areas where the skin is open due to injury, surgery, or compromised circulation it is important to follow up with a health care provider immediately.
 
  There are other rare skin disorders associated with diabetes such as Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum, Bullosis Diabeticorum, and Eruptive Xanthomatosis. These conditions are usually benign, but can lead to secondary infection.  A new onset of any of these conditions might signify a sudden change in control of blood sugar, and tend to improve with better diabetic control.

   Skin care is essential in people with diabetes. Most complications can be prevented or treated if recognized early. Maintaining blood sugars is crucial to help prevent skin and other systemic complications related to diabetes. Keeping the skin moisturized and self-inspection can help prevent rashes or wounds from going unrecognized and becoming more of a problem over time.

Teal Pumpkin Project

Having a child with food allergies can be hard to manage on a daily basis, but can be even harder to cope with come holiday time. With so many treats and goodies at every corner, it would be hard for any child not to want to indulge.  There is a way to make a difference though.  This Halloween season you can take part in the Teal Pumpkin Project.  The Food Allergy Research &Education organization (FARE) is asking families to paint a pumpkin teal as a sign for food allergy families that you have nonfood treats for children.  This can include stickers, glow bracelets, bookmarks, and crayons.  Get creative.

 If you suspect that your child may suffer from food allergies, testing is very simple.  At Florida Skin Center, we can test for a variety of food allergies.  Testing can we done on children older than 2 years of age and results are given within 20 minutes.  Allergy testing is covered under most insurance plans.

Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

Injectables Workshop

Are you interested in treatments that will smooth out wrinkles and provide a natural, youthful look? Are you curious about Botox or Juvederm, but are wary of what the procedure entails? Do you have questions about these injectables? Do you want to see in person what the procedures are like? If so, come join us for our Botox & Fillers Workshop on Thursday, October 27th from 6-8 PM in our Fort Myers location.

The treatments will be explained and demonstrated by our experienced providers on models. This is a great opportunity to have any questions answered. We will also be offering special discounts for attending the workshop: 

• Purchase 1 vial of Juvederm, receive 1 zone of Botox free*
• 15% off all products purchased at the workshop*

* Juvederm must be purchased the day of the workshop in order to qualify for the free Botox. Zones of Botox are limited to the forehead, glabella, periocular, upper lip, chest, and neck.

* Procedures purchased during the event must be done by 12/31/16. Promotions and discounts only available to workshop attendees. 15% product discount not applicable to packages.

Please call our office at 239-561-3376 to RSVP for this event. We hope to see you there!

The Importance of Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are key tools in medicine - they help advance medical knowledge and patient care. Clinical trials help determine what works and what doesn't work, and help guide allocation of resources into researching what does work. Besides aiding in furthering medical knowledge, participants in clinical trials may gain access to novel treatments before they are widely available.

Clinical trials are led by a principal investigator, who is usually a physician. A principal investigator is often someone with many years of experience and expertise in the subjects being researched. This is beneficial in ensuring that the investigation is valid, with appropriate subjects being recruited for the study, and study protocols being met and followed.

Here at Florida Skin Center, we are active participators in clinical trials. We believe that they are vital in helping discover information regarding the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases or conditions. They are another way we strive to provide you with the best dermatological care.

If you are interested in becoming a participant in one of our clinical trials, please visit these websites: Florida Skin Center or Clinical Study Center.

The Ideal Skin Cancer Screening

Why should we have skin cancer screenings?
The statistics for skin cancer are daunting, and speak to the importance of regular skin cancer screenings. Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime. Melanoma rates in the United States have doubled in the past 20 years. Melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, has a good prognosis if detected early. However, this type of skin cancer can spread quickly to other parts of the body, making it deadly. Quite often, there are no symptoms, and patients are not even aware of the cancerous growth until it is too late. The 5-year survival rate for melanoma that has been detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 98%. However, when melanoma is detected in the later stages, the prognosis can be grim. The 5-year survival rate for regional and distant stage melanomas drops to 63% and 17%, respectively. On average, one American dies from melanoma every hour. The most common skin cancers, basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas, are highly curable if detected early. These types of skin cancers are usually not life-threatening, but can invade deeper tissues and cause scarring.

If you have no personal or family history of skin cancer, no personal history of dysplastic nevi (abnormal moles) or actinic keratoses (pre-cancers), a skin cancer screening by a qualified dermatology medical professional is recommended yearly. If you have a history of any of the above, a skin cancer screening is recommended more frequently - at least every 6 months. Self-skin-checks at home are recommended monthly, regardless. You should also have an eye exam yearly by an ophthalmologist, as melanoma can also occur in the eye.

Preparing for your skin cancer screening
Do your self-skin-check at home and make note of any new or changing moles, growths, or marks. Make sure to point these out to your healthcare provider at the visit.

Wear clothing that is easy to remove. Try not to wear makeup or anything that can make it more difficult to evaluate the skin. Remove nail polish from the fingernails and toenails. Melanoma can occur under the nails, so these areas should not be overlooked.

The skin cancer screening
At the office, you will be given a gown and asked to undress. Ideally, all clothing, including underwear, should be removed, as well as shoes, makeup and jewelry. All parts of the body will be examined, from head to toe. Your healthcare provider will most likely use a dermascope to aid in examining lesions that need special attention. The dermascope has a magnifying lens and light so that your provider can see pigment patterns and characteristics of the lesion that cannot be seen with the naked eye. Some characteristics of moles that your provider will be evaluating can be summarized in the ABCDEs of melanoma, which is also a good guideline for your self-skin-exams at home.

A     A is for asymmetry - if one half of the mole does not match the other half.
B     B is for borders - if the border is irregular.
C     C is for color - if the color is not uniform, or if the color is very dark.
D     D is for diameter - if the size of the lesion is greater than 6mm (pencil eraser).
E     E is for evolution - if the lesion is changing, especially suddenly.

Other types of lesions that your healthcare provider will be looking for include red or pink growths or patches that can be scaly or bleeding. A growth or patch that started off looking like a pimple or injury but has not healed in the normal expected time is worth testing, to rule out basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Sun protection and sun avoidance can help minimize your risk of skin cancers. It is important to wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 30 daily, on sun-exposed areas. It is also important to reapply sunscreen every 1-2 hours. Regular skin cancer screenings by a trained dermatology provider are important to ensure that skin cancers are not overlooked and are treated in a timely fashion should they arise.