Q: “Why should you see a dermatologist?”

A:   You should see a dermatologist because skin cancer diagnosis at epidemic proportions according to some experts. 1 in 5 Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life.   With this high rate it is best to perform monthly self-exam and see us annually.   Using a dermatologist gets you someone who spent 4 years after medical school specializing in the skin.   No other doctors are trained as highly in the skin.   You are assured someone who evaluates and treats skin daily so are in excellent hands.

At DermacenterMD we strive to educate our patients including giving our free ‘Skin Cancer Educational Guide’ at appointments. 

We would be honored to see you.   We want you looking and feeling great.  Call today us at (574)522-0265 for your skin cancer exam.  No referral necessary.

You may be surprised by the answer to this question-

If you suffer from mild to severe rosacea there are certain lifestyle changes that can be implemented to help decrease flare ups and keep symptoms to a minimum. These aggravating factors may or may not affect your flare ups, but if you find that they do, it may be a good idea to avoid or reduce these activities in the future.

1. Sun exposure-

It is important to protect your skin from the sun using daily sunscreen and wearing a hat to shield your skin. Even a small amount of sun exposure can cause rosacea to flare. 

2. Hot liquids-

Many people with rosacea report having flare ups when they ingest hot liquids such as coffee or teas. Try your coffee or tea iced for a period of time and see if your symptoms improve or subside.

3. Spicy Foods-

Avoiding spicy foods may also improve symptoms of rosacea. Often times, the spike in body temperature induced by spicy foods is thought to cause flare ups.

4. Emotional Upset-

Feelings of stress, anger or embarrassment are thought to make rosacea symptoms worse.

5. Seasonal Changes-

Changes in the weather can also affect flare ups. According to a new National Rosacea Society (NRS) patient survey, nearly 90% of 852 survey respondents said their rosacea is affected by the change in seasons.

6. Alcohol-

Having a glass of wine at the end of a stressful day sounds relaxing, but if you suffer from rosacea it may cause flushing to become worse. The reason for this is unknown, however, alcohol does not cause rosacea despite pervious popular belief.

7. Temperature Extremes-

Extreme hot and cold can cause flare ups of rosacea to be more frequent. If you must be exposed to extreme temperatures, try to stay covered up or stay cool to keep your body temperature as regular as possible.

8. Strenuous exercise-

Exercise has been reported to increase flare ups and cause flushing. Taking it easy can be beneficial to thwart symptoms.

9. Hot baths or saunas-

Once again, avoiding extremes in temperatures such as hot showers or baths can help reduce flushing. Maintaining a regular body temperature can help reduce flare ups.

10. Drugs that dilate blood vessels, including some blood pressure medications-

Rosacea affects the blood vessels of the face and any drug that dilates blood vessels can increase irritation and flushing.

Making simple lifestyle changes like avoiding certain aggravating factors, such as the ones listed above, can help to reduce your symptoms and flare ups. However, going in to see your doctor can be the best choice. Your dermatologist can evaluate your skin can determine the best course of action for treatment. Many prescription topicals can provide significant improvement.

Source: via http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/news/20040218/link-between-rosacea-alcohol

There are a number of reasons why brown spots or age spots can appear on our skin. Many times they are evidence of aging, sun-damage or an active lifestyle. Just because they appear on your skin does not mean you have to live with them. Here at DermacenterMD, we offer an innovative and effective treatment called BBL PhotoRejuvenation. This can help to reduce signs of aging and reduce the appearance of brown spots and age spots.

The BBL broadband light will be administered to your skin using a hand piece and a flash of laser light will gently heat up the under layers of your skin. You may briefly feel a rubber band snap or warm sensation as the light is absorbed by your skin.  The heat absorbed by the targeted areas will stimulate your skin cells to generate new collagen. This will help to restore your skin’s natural beauty, blending its natural color and making it smoother, vibrant and younger. It can also eliminate those pesky brown spots and age spots by targeting the unwanted melanin responsible for pigmented lesions. BBL can improve the overall appearance of your skin. 

This procedure is non-invasive with minimal discomfort and virtually no down-time. Recovery time depends on the depth of the treatment. There are several different depths that can be utilized depending on your particular needs. The deeper the treatment, the longer it can take to heal. Redness may be present for several hours after the procedure and some pigmented lesions may darken and then fade and flake off leaving your skin smoother, fine wrinkles will be less noticeable, and sun spots or uneven pigmentation will fade. You may need 2 to 5 treatments at 2-4 week intervals to get your desired results. Any area of the body can be treated, but the most popular areas are the face, neck, back of the hands, chest and shoulders.

If you or someone you know is interested in improving their complexion and rejuvenating their skin, call our office today at 574-522-0265 to schedule your consultation with Dr. Moore and his team today. 

In dermatology, acceptance and responsibility are two key components that we need.  Why?  Well, I will tell you why.  

The lack of protection from the sun is one of the underlying driving forces to precancers (actinic keratosis), wrinkles, pigmentation, and even skin cancer. Unfortunately, most every person does not apply the amount of sun protection that they should. It’s essential that we wear sunscreen and protect ourselves.  Even a scientific study done on farmers in west Texas backs this up. When sunscreen was applied to one half of the face and not the other half during three months of summer, the side of the face with sunscreen applied every day has half as many precancer (actinic keratosis) growths as the other side of the face. 

This simple study demonstrated the power of daily sunscreen for reducing precancer lesions. On top of this, we know that age spots, wrinkles, and skin cancer are caused by sun exposure. 

So, to get our skin looking and feeling the best, we need to use sunscreen every day. This can be in the form of lotions, sunscreens themselves, and make up for women. In addition, choosing a sunscreen that has the proper ingredients is key. Finding sunscreen with Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide is useful since these ingredients are physical blockers. This means that they bounce the sun off the skin. Another quality ingredient in sunscreen is Avobenzone or Parsol 1789. This is also an excellent ingredient which can be a powerful agent in preventing sun damage.  

Use daily sunscreen with Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide or Avobenzone (Parsol 1789) to reduce your risk of sun damage and skin cancer. The simple habit could pay big dividends!

The medical name for a mole is melanocytic nevus. It is a common benign growth of the color cells of the skin known as melanocytes. Moles normally appear during our first year of life and peak in number in the second or third decade. The average number of moles for an adult is 25. Moles can increase in number with sun exposure, especially sunburns before the age of 12. Some moles may even disappear as you get older.

The more moles you have, the greater your chance is of developing melanoma, the most serious and potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Chronically sun exposed body sites have a higher density of moles normally. Moles may increase in size, particularly before the age of 20. Having a high number of large moles also increases your chances of developing skin cancer.

Keeping track of your moles and checking your skin every month can help to ensure that you know where your moles are and you can be certain that they are not growing or changing. A new or changing mole is at the highest level of risk for skin cancer. If you find anything suspicious in a mole, it is best to have it looked at by your dermatologist.

If you have found something suspicious, call to make an appointment today: 574-522-0265.

Source:

Via http://www.dermatology.org/molemelanoma/whatismole.html