How does ‘Slow Sun’ cause damage?

‘Slow Sun’ or ‘Incidental Sun’ is the sun we get without even knowing it.   

When we get in and out of our car going to and from work we often do not realize we might be getting sun exposure.  Unfortunately, the small segments of exposure to harmful UV rays we get intermittently throughout our life actually add up.  It has been estimated up to 85% of the cumulative sun exposure comes from this ‘Incidental Sun.’  

What does chronic sun exposure do to the skin?

It can lead to signs of sun damage.  This includes roughness in texture, brown or red spot development and wrinkles most often.   These features are often felt to be signs of aging.   It is not as noticeable at first, but something does occur with continued exposure.  This something is the development of precancerous lesions termed ACTINIC KERATOSIS.  These are usually rough and scaling growths on the sun exposed part of the body.   In addition, high lifetime UV exposure can lead to an increased risk of BASAL CELL CARCINOMA and SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA.  So each day we get some exposure we are increasing your risk of skin cancer.

Be aware of your cumulative sun exposure, even that from childhood.  All sun exposure plays a role in the development of skin cancer and precancerous lesions. Don’t forget to wear your sunscreen and cover up!

Today is National Melaoma Monday- a day to bring awareness to a potentially deadly form of skin cancer. Often times skin cancer is not thought of as being as dangerous as other forms of skin cancer, but in reality it is just as dangerous. In fact, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. It is estimated that one in every five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cacner at some point in their lifetime and it is estimated that more than 8,500 people are diagnosed with skin cancer in the U.S. everyday. 

Those are some pretty astounding statistics. Thankfully, the two most common forms of skin cancer, basal cell and squamous cell cancer, are easily treatable and rarely spread. However, melaoma is very dangerous and can potentially be life threatening. That is why it is so important to check your skin at least once a month, as well as have your skin examined by a dermatologist once a year. Catching melanoma early is the key to sucess. 

In honor of Melanoma Monday, take some time today to read about how other's lives have been touched by skin cancer. It can happen to anyone at any age reguardless of skin tone or ethnicity. The American Academy of Dermatology asked people to share their personal stories to help shed light on the dangers of melanoma. Below you will find the link to read the stories on their webiste.

AAD Personal Stories of Skin Cancer: https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/get-involved/share-your-story/personal-stories

Also, in addition to seeing your dermatologist every year, it is important to be checking your own skin on a regular basis to look for any suspicious lesions. In this video, Dr. Moore shares the ABCDEs of melanoma so you can be aware of what to look for when you examine your own skin.

ABCDEs of Melanoma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFOWxd0hu78

If you believe you have a suspicious lesion, give us a call at 574-522-0265 to scheudle your skin check today! It could save a life!

The low levels of Vitamin D in American today have caused a stir and confusion among health conscious individuals. According to an article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine in 2009 it was reported 23 percent of people in one survey had sufficient Vitamin D levels. 

Vitamin D insufficiency is typically tied soft and weak bones which is medically termed rickets. There is growing concern that low Vitamin D levels may be tied to heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and other health related problems. Therefore, it is of importance that one maintains an appropriate Vitamin D level. It is also worth being aware that changes in how the blood levels were measured from the 1980s to current day may over dramatize the swing mentioned in the media.

The sun causes an action on the skin which does help the body synthesize Vitamin D. Among dermatologists who regularly recognize and treat skin cancer, this becomes an important topic because there is a significant and unquestionable correlation between sun exposure and skin cancer. Asking patients to get more sun exposure is contributing to an ongoing epidemic in skin cancer, according to many skin cancer experts.    

Though there is not a quick and rapid solution, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends patients work to get their Vitamin D levels up through oral supplementation.This means eating foods which have higher levels of Vitamin D such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, and Vitamin D-fortified dairy products, such as milk. In addition, taking supplements with Vitamin D can be helpful.The Institue of Medicine established a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 400 IU per day for infants, 600 IU per day for those age one to 70 and 800 IU per day for age 71 and older. It is also worth noting that too much Vitamin D can be a problem as well, so for people age nine and older individuals should not take more than 4000 IU.

The topic is one of debate and will continue to be an important area for health concerns in the future.  

Sources: 

>Scientific America -  Vitamin D deficiency soars in the U.S., study says New research suggests that most Americans are lacking a crucial vitamin. March 23, 2009 |By Jordan Lite

>Americans Low on Vitamin D By Jennifer Warner,  Reviewed by Elizabeth Klodas, MD, FACC on March 25, 2009

>Let's not call it the sunshine vitamin Public talking about vitamin D as IOM and AAD issue new recommendations By Jan Bowers, contributing writer,  May 02, 2011

Many topical acne treatments have the potential to be drying to the skin.  Add in dry, cold winter weather and sometimes the regimen you were using in warmer weather 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 winter 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 in winter months . If you have sensitive skin, a gentle skin cleanser such as cetaphil or cerave will 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, cold 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.