Welcome to the DermacenterMD Blog

Posts for: April, 2015

By Mariah Lefforge, PA-C
April 20, 2015
Tags: sensitive skin   Acne   Treatment  

Do you suffer from acne and often find that your treatment regimine can cause irritation? Many topical acne treatments have the potential to be drying to the skin.  Add in hot, dry warmer weather and sometimes the regimen you were using is suddenly causing your skin to be red and dry.  The following guidelines are recommended year-round for acne treatments, but are especially important during these warmer and sunny months to keep your acne treatment on track without causing irritation.

  1.  WAIT –Wait at least 30 minutes after washing your face before applying your medication.

When there is increased moisture in the skin, the amount of product absorbed by your skin increases.  In the case of some treatments (such as those used for rashes), this helps the medication work better.  However, in the case of many acne medications, this increases the likelihood that you will experience irritation.  Also considering swapping your face wash. If you have sensitive skin, a gentle skin cleanser such as Cetaphil or Cerave to get your skin clean while minimizing irritation. 

      2.  APPLY- Apply a very thin layer of medication to the affected area.

More is not better –in fact, too much product will be more irritating and could delay improvement.  For the entire face, you should use no more than a pea-sized amount of product, taking care to avoid the eye area and folds around the nose and mouth.

      3. MOISTURIZE- If you are experiencing dryness, use a lightweight moisturizer .

Even acne prone skin sometimes needs help in the moisture department.  A moisturizer that is formulated not to clog pores can really help keep your skin in good condition while treating acne.  Look for moisturizers that state “non-comedogenic”  or “non-acnegenic.”  Cerave and Cetaphil are two brands that make lotions that would be excellent for acne-prone skin.   In some cases, applying a moisturizer before applying the topical will help make an acne medication more tolerable, others find it more helpful to apply after applying the medication or use the following morning.

      4. MODIFY-  If your regimen is too drying to use daily, modify how you are applying your treatments

If you are getting too dry, it is best to hold on your acne topical and use a moisturizer only until the irritation resolves.  When you resume treatment, try modifying how often you are using the medication.  Start with every other day, or treat for 2 days and hold for one day to see if this is better tolerated.  As stated above, sometimes applying a moisturizer first will also help make a product more tolerable during dry and warm weather.  Some products can be used as short contact therapy (also called “SCT”) where the product is used as a mask – apply to clean skin, leave on for 5-10 minutes, rinse with warm water and then apply a moisturizer.  Short contact therapy provides a way to deliver a small amount of medication to the skin. 

      5. CALL – Most importantly, if you are experiencing an adverse reaction to your treatment, give us a call. 

At DermacenterMD, we want your treatment to help your acne, not cause another problem for your skin.  If you are experiencing an adverse reaction, we will work with you to help you figure out what modifications can be made to make your regimen work. Call our office today at 574-522-0265 if you have any questions or concerns about your treatment or wish to recieve treatment for acne.


0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Dr. Roger Moore and Team
April 14, 2015
Category: Skin Cancer
Tags: skin cancer   tanning   sun   UVA rays   UVB rays   melanoma  

Can indoor tanning increase my risk of skin cancer?

People sometimes use indoor tanning in the belief that this will prevent burns when they tan outdoors. However, indoor tanning raises the risk of developing melanoma even if a person has never had burns from either indoor or outdoor tanning, according to a study published May 29 in the JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

To test the hypothesis that indoor tanning without burns prevents sunburn and subsequent skin cancer, researchers at the Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Dermatology, and Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis used data from a case-control study on indoor tanning and the risk of melanoma. The researchers had detailed information on indoor tanning and sun exposure for the study participants and excluded those who experienced a burn while tanning indoors.

A total of 1167 melanoma patients were matched to 1101 control subjects by sex and age. All participants completed a questionnaire and telephone interview. In analyses adjusted for sociodemographic factors (eg., age, sex, income, education), eye, hair, and skin color, number of freckles and moles, family history of melanoma, and lifetime sun exposure and sunscreen use, they found that melanoma patients reporting zero lifetime burns were nearly four times more likely to be indoor tanners than control subjects. In addition, melanoma patients with zero sunburns reported having started tanning indoors at younger ages and used indoor tanning over more years than other patients who had experienced sunburn, suggesting that greater total exposure contributed to the findings.

The researchers write that their results demonstrate "…that indoor tanning, even when used in a way that does not produce burns, is a risk factor for melanoma."

Source: Oxford University Press USA. (2014, May 28). Indoor tanning, even without burning, increases the risk of melanoma. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 16, 2015 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140528163743.htm


0 Comment(s) Permalink
By Dr. Roger Moore
April 07, 2015
Tags: PA   Skincare   skin   dermatology   providers  

Meet DermacenterMD’s PA

Dr. Moore has chosen to include a PA as an integral part of his practice. DermacenterMD is currently home to one of the finest PAs in the area, Mariah Lefforge. Mariah works hand in hand with Dr. Moore to provide the best possible care for all patients seen at DermacenterMD.

Meet Mariah Lefforge PA-C

Mariah has been a part of the DermacenterMD team since 2007. She grew up in Bluffton, Indiana were she graduated valedictorian of her high school class. She was awarded a full-tuition Presidential Scholarship to the University of Indianapolis where she majored in chemistry. While at the University of Indianapolis, she volunteered at St. Francis Hospital and worked as a chemistry tutor and lab assistant, as well as a home health care CNA. She graduated Summa Cum Laude and was in the top 10% of her class. She earned a Master’s of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of St. Francis where she served as vice president of her class. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Indiana Academy of Physician Assistants (IAPA) and the Society of Dermatology Physician Assistants (SDPA).

In her spare time, Mariah enjoys playing tennis, volleyball and is an active member at her local church. She is the resident office comedian and enjoys making everyone smile and laugh.

If you are interested in recieving quality, professional care from our dermatology PA, please feel free to give our office a call at 574-522-0265 to schedule an appointment today.


0 Comment(s) Permalink


Archive:

Tags