Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Infantile Hemangiomas Safely Treated with Blood Pressure Medication

Infantile hemangiomas are benign growth composed of blood vessels that can appear shortly after birth. Parents are often concerned and distressed when their child develops one of these as some have the potential to be disfiguring. A new study has shown that the beta-blocker blood pressure medication Prpanolol can affectively shrink these growths, significantly improving their appearance. Of th 40 children treated between the ages of 11 weeks to 5 years, there were no significant side effects so the treatment appears very safe.

Monday, July 25, 2011

A Future of Painless Sunburns?

In a new report in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers identified the protein that is responsible for triggering the pain and redness in sunburned skin. The protein, called CXCL5, summons inflammation-causing immune cells to the sun-damaged skin leading to pain and swelling. Blocking CXCL5 reduced sunburn-pain in animal models. While protecting yourself with sunscreen and sun-protective clothing is still the best approach to maintaining healthy skin, this research suggests that new therapies with the potential to alleviate pain should you get a sunburn may be on the horizon.

Friday, July 22, 2011

What's In Your Glove Box?

A study in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology found that people who spend a lot of time in the car are more likely to get skin cancers on the side exposed to sunlight during driving. People get a tremendous amount of sun exposure while driving. Some ultraviolet light wavelengths can penetrate window glass putting us at risk during our commutes. Even inside cars, wearing sunscreen is advised for maximum protection.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Self-Detection Not As Effective As Physician Screening For SKin Cancer

High-risk patients have a better chance of beating skin cancer if they see a dermatologist sooner than later. While many people know enough about the dangers of skin cancer to check their skin periodically, physicians are much better at noticing subtle changes. This was confirmed in a new study published in the Archives of Dermatology which revealed that self-detection was not as effective as screenings performed by doctors for detecting melanoma.

Nevertheless, self-examination is critical in diagnosing melanomas early. Increasing education for patients in recognizing melanoma signs and symptoms by performing skin self-examination will hopefully change these outcomes and allow patients to become as good as physicians in detecting skin cancer at an early stage. Talk to your physician or dermatologist about the best way to screen your skin.

Monday, July 18, 2011

New Treatment for Psoriasis: Weight Loss?

Dramatic improvement in psoriasis was noted in two patients who underwent gastric bypass surgery, according to a study published in the July issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Roux-en Y gastric bypass surgery was performed in two obese female patients with severe plaque psoriasis. In both cases, the patients reported an improvement in their psoriasis after surgery, with the second patients' body surface area involvement reducing to just 9%. Investigators theorized that chronic inflammation experienced by obese patients may explain the association between psoriasis and obesity. Weight loss may therefore play a role in treating psoriasis in overweight patients.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Wearing Flip-Flops, Baseball Caps May Increase Risk Of Skin Cancer

Flip-flops and baseball caps often define one's wardrobe in the summer. But there is a problem with these summertime fashion staples. Caps and sandals often leave the tips of the ears and the tops of the feet dangerously exposed to sun damage. The potential for skin cancers in those areas are real, especially on the tips of the ears. These areas of the body are frequently overlooked when people apply sunscreen and have little protection against the sun's rays.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Certain Allergies May Reduce Risk Of Skin Cancers

A recent study been published in British Medical Jounral that has suggested people with allergies to common metals and chemicals are less likely to get skin cancers. This study supports the immunosurveillance hypothesis, which says that people with allergies have immune systems that are more viligant at patrolling the body and eliminating transformed cells, therefore reducing the risk of cancer.

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Women with Skin Cancer may benefit from Vitamin D and Calcium

Many experts have pointed to the role of Vitamin D in preventing the development of cancer. At this time, Vitamin D and calcium have not been found to reduce the overall rate of melanoma or non-melanoma skin cancer in post-menopausal women. However, a study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that in women with history of non-melanoma skin cancer, calcium plus vitamin D supplementation reduced the risk of developing a subsequent melanoma. This suggests a potential role for these supplements in female patients that have a history of skin cancer.

Friday, July 1, 2011

Increased Risk of Skin Cancer in Transplant Patients

Heart transplant patients are four to 30 times as likely to develop skin cancer as healthy people, according to a study published in the American Journal of Transplantation. Patients living closer to the equator and with fairer skin are at highest risk of developing skin cancer and even dying from them. The study examined skin cancer rates in 6,271 heart transplant patients.