Hello My Friend,

I sit down to write this blog post as I read yet another article about the potential health epidemic tied to the skin. What problem? Vitamin D is the problem.  Maybe you have heard of the stir it has caused, and maybe not. According to WebMD, researchers have found low Vitamin D to be a problem in too many Americans. Scientific America reported up to three-quarters of U.S. teens and adults are deficient in Vitamin D, the so called “sunshine vitamin.”  

What does this have to do with you and me? Well Vitamin D is a vitamin which uses a conversion process in the skin to make it useful for our body. The conversion process requires sunlight. So, many people have jumped on a bandwagon trying to encourage more sun exposure. The benefits are felt to be elevated Vitamin D levels and a reduction in the possible problems tied to low Vitamin D like cancer, heart disease, infection, and other health problems.  

The problem is that skin cancer is also rising at epidemic proportions. In fact, over 3.5 million cases of basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Some experts estimate as many as 1 in 3 Americans will get skin cancer at some point in their life.   

Therefore, we are caught in a dilemma. Should we get more sun or not? The American Academy of Dermatology has made it clear we cannot put ourselves at risk of skin cancer if possible. They provided a position statement to describe their recommendations which includes to continue protecting the skin from the sun and work to get Vitamin D from dietary supplements. Taking oral Vitamin D was felt to be the most important step in getting levels up to normal if they were low. 

In short, we should be aware of this ‘hot topic’ as well as our own Vitamin D levels. In addition, we need to make sure we are taking enough daily, and still be aware of the harmful impact the sun can have on the body.

I wish you all much success, peace, and happiness. 

Roger Moore, MD

  If you’re considering having a cosmetic procedure done to enhance your natural beauty and reduce the signs of aging, your first reaction may be to contact a plastic surgeon’s office or perhaps go to your local spa. While these places can provide excellent treatment, there is no better option than having a board-certified dermatologist perform your cosmetic procedure. Here at DermacenterMD, Dr. Roger Moore, a skin care expert, will personally evaluate your needs and perform your procedure.

There is no other medical profession that is more highly trained in the skin than dermatology. A dermatologist has dedicated their life to the study and care of the skin, hair and nails. When you come in for a consultation with Dr. Moore, you will not only be able to express your desire for a specific cosmetic procedure, but also you can express any other skin, cosmetic or aging concerns you may have. Dr. Moore can lead you in the right direction to get your skin looking youthful, fresh and beautiful.

You can change your image and the way people perceive you thought the innovative cosmetic procedures offered here at DermacenterMD. Dr. Moore offers treatments such as Botox and Dysport, fillers, laser facial rejuvenation, photo rejuvenation, laser hair reduction, microdermabrasion, ProFractional laser therapy, laser vein therapy and more. Many of Dr. Moore’s patients travel from all over the Michiana area, including South Bend, Goshen, Mishawaka and Michigan to receive the professional and expert care they know they will receive at DermacenterMD. So, if you’re considering cosmetic procedures to improve your appearance there is no better option than choosing a board-certified skin expert like Dr. Roger Moore.

We welcome you to give our office a call at 574-522-0265 to schedule your consultation today.

When Sunscreen Safety is Called Into Question

The Skin Cancer Foundation

Source: www.skincancer.org

For years, dermatologists have told us sunscreen protects skin. Now, many people are questioning that advice after an environmental group challenged the safety of many popular brands.

"Patients are confused," said Dr. Darrell S. Rigel, a clinical professor of dermatology at New York University who is a skin cancer researcher. "I've had patients come in and ask, 'Am I harming myself by using it?' I've spent a lot of time talking to people about it."

The latest report comes from the Environmental Working Group, which claims that in an investigation of nearly 1,000 sunscreen products, four out of five offer inadequate protection from the sun or contain ingredients that may pose a health risk.

But dermatologists who reviewed the group's research say the biggest problem is that it lacks scientific rigor. In particular, they are critical of a sunscreen rating system that they say is arbitrary and without basis in any accepted scientific standard.

"What they are doing is developing their own system for evaluating things," said Dr. Warwick L. Morison, professor of dermatology at Johns Hopkins and chairman of the Skin Cancer Foundation's photobiology committee, which tests sunscreens for safety and effectiveness. "Using this scale to say a sunscreen offers good protection or bad protection is junk science."

Dr. Morison has no financial ties to sunscreen makers, and his work with the Skin Cancer Foundation is unpaid. Sonya Lunder, a senior analyst with the Environmental Working Group, said the database and rating system were based on an extensive review of the medical literature on sunscreens. Of nearly 1,000 sunscreens reviewed, the group recommends only 143 brands. Most are lesser-known brands with titanium and zinc, which are effective blockers of ultraviolet radiation. But they are less popular with consumers because they can leave a white residue.

The group is especially concerned about the safety of a compound called oxybenzone, which is used in most popular sunscreens. But the research on oxybenzone is limited.

Most recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed 2,517 urine samples collected in 2003-4 from a representative sample of the population over age 6 as part of a national health and nutrition survey. The analysis, published this month in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, found oxybenzone in 97 percent of the samples.

The study goes on to note that human exposure to oxybenzone "has not been associated with adverse health effects" and that sunscreen is an important tool to protect against sunburn and skin cancer. But the researchers said further study was needed to determine whether the chemical had any meaningful effect on the body.

"What's the meaning of it?" said Dr. Rigel, who has consulted for sunscreen makers. "Nobody's seen any problems from years of these agents being used. To call it dangerous is misleading."

A few animal studies have raised concerns that oxybenzone could disrupt endocrine functions. Several researchers say that this is a theoretical concern and that no such effect has been shown in humans.

Another study, published two years ago in Free Radical Biology and Medicine, raised troubling concerns about what happens when sunscreen is absorbed into the skin and reacts with the sun. The report suggested that under certain conditions, sunscreens with oxybenzone and other ultraviolet filters could lead to free-radical damage to the skin, a process that in theory could lead to skin cancer. The study used laboratory models of skin, so some researchers say it is not a reliable indicator of what happens in people.

But the authors noted that the damage occurred only when ultraviolet light reached sunscreen that had penetrated the skin. The solution, they say, is to keep applying sunscreen to block out the UV rays. "It may seem counterintuitive, but by reapplying sunscreen we protect ourselves from the UV light reaching any of the UV-filters that may have penetrated to the skin," said Kerry M. Hanson, the lead author of the report and a senior research scientist at the University of California, Riverside. "At this point, I don't think there's enough evidence to firmly claim that sunscreens containing oxybenzone are unsafe."

Still, Dr. Hanson added that the UV filters used in sunscreens needed testing "to give us a better understanding of how these molecules behave in the skin."

One solution, she said, may be to add antioxidants to sunscreen to counter the effect. She said she had consulted with sunscreen makers on the issue.??

The Food and Drug Administration is preparing rules that will give consumers more information on the label about the sunscreens they buy. Most doctors still recommend sunscreens with a high SPF number and a combination of avobenzone and oxybenzone, ingredients that protect the skin from two types of ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB.

Avobenzone, also called Parsol 1789, can degrade quickly in the sun. But many top brands, including Johnson & Johnson's Neutrogena with Helioplex, Aveeno with Active Photobarrier Complex and several Coppertone brands, are formulated to prevent that. L'Oreal products containing the new ingredient Mexoryl also offer broad-spectrum protection, doctors say.

It is important to keep in mind that sunscreen is only one way to protect the skin. Not only do people typically not use enough sunscreen, but they don't take other steps to protect themselves from the harmful effects of the sun.

"People focus so much on sunscreens," Dr. Morison said. "It should be a package of protection. A hat, staying out of the sun, avoiding the hottest part of the day and covering up are all part of the whole story. It's not just the sunscreen."

Looking for last minute Christmas gifts? Here are a few suggestions for people who love to pamper their skin. 

1. Clarisonic

The Clarisonic is a handheld facial cleansing brush that helps exfoliate skin and unclog pores. You can remove more makeup and toxins from your skin by using a Clarisonic a few times a week. They come in an array of colors and sets.

The Clarisonic can be purchased as www.clarisonic.com or most major department stores such as Macy’s, Nordstrom, or Dillards.

2. Schedule a Facial

Getting a facial is a real luxury. Often in our busy lives we don’t take time to pamper ourselves. Schedule a facial for your loved one to help them take time to relax and improve their skin.

Popular places to schedule a facial are Origins, Message Envy, or your local spa.

3. Lip Balm with SPF

Most people have a few lip balms laying around the house, but it is important to have a lip balm that contains SPF. Skin cancer can develop on the delicate skin of lips, so it’s important to protect the skin on your lips from the harmful rays of the sun.

There are a wide variety of lip balms with SPF available at most drug stores and department stores.

4. Sunscreen

This may seem like a lame gift, but think about the last time you went to the beach. Where you frantically searching last-minute for the bottle of sunscreen only to find that it's almost empty? Having a brand new bottle of sunscreen ready to go for the summer months can be a major help for people who are conscious about protecting their skin from the sun. It is almost certain that they will be grateful for your thoughtfulness.

Sunscreen can be purchased at most drug stores or department stores. Just be sure to check the label to ensure that the sunscreen you are purchasing contains at least one of the following ingredients: titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, or avobenzone (a.k.a. Mexoryl).

5. Sephora Gift Card

If you are doing your last minute shopping and don’t have the time to shop around to decide on a specific gift, just pop in to Sephora and get a gift card. Sephora has many high end skin care lines with every product a skin health conscious person could want. From face wash to anti-aging products and moisturizers, you can never go wrong with a gift card from Sephora. 

An article from The Skin Cancer Foundation

Source: www.skincancer.org

Published on January 29, 2014

JAMA Dermatology has released a study, “International Prevalence of Indoor Tanning -- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.”

Key study takeaways at-a-glance:

• The number of skin cancer cases due to tanning is higher than the number of lung cancer cases due to smoking.
• In the US alone, 419,254 cases of skin cancer can be attributed to indoor tanning. Out of this number, 6,199 are melanoma cases.

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Position:
The study results demonstrate that tanning bed use, particularly among young people, is an alarmingly widespread behavior. In the US, 35% of adults and 55% of college students have tanned, and the study found there are more than 419,000 new skin cancer cases attributable to indoor tanning each year. Worldwide, there are more skin cancer cases due to indoor tanning than there are lung cancer cases due to smoking.

These results are not surprising given what we know about indoor tanning behaviors and society’s flawed view that an artificially tanned look is beautiful. The Foundation continually works to change perceptions about tanning through its public education efforts, including its PSA campaign Go With Your Own Glow, which is designed to encourage women to embrace and protect their natural skin tones.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that people of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds avoid indoor tanning and take precautions in the sun by limiting outdoor time between 10 am and 4 pm, seeking the shade when outdoors, using a broad spectrum SPF 15+ sunscreen (SPF 30+ sunscreen for extended stays outdoors), and wearing protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.

This is the first summary of the international prevalence of indoor tanning exposure. 88 records (studies) were included in the meta-analysis, and the results include data from 406,696 participants. Analyses were performed separately for three geographic regions: the United States and Canada, Northern and Western Europe and Australia, as well as for these regions combined.