Dose-Response Link Between Tanning And Skin Cancer

According to a study published online Feb. 27 in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, using tanning beds, especially in high school and college, is associated with an increased risk of skin cancer. There was a significantly higher risk of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer associated with the use of tanning beds more than six times per year compared with no use during high school/college compared with use at ages 25 to 35. Furthermore, researchers found that incremental increases in use of tanning beds of four times per year significantly increased a patient's individual risk.

Is Your Salon Putting You At Risk?

Gel Manicures are a popular item offered at many salons around the country. However, the UV lamps used during this process can put users at significant risk. Gel manicures require a client to put hands under UV lamps for up to 10 minutes. Reports of women developed non-melanoma skin cancer on their hands after such exposure to UV lamps have been documented in medical literature. Make sure your pick-me-up isn't putting you at increased risk!

New Treatment For Advanced Skin Cancer Almost Doubles Survival

A new therapy, recently approved for use in Europe, has shown a significant effect in the treatment for melanoma by almost doubling survival times in patients with advanced disease. According to an international study, patients given the drug vemurafenib (Zelboraf) gained several extra months of life, living an average of 16 months, compared to the average nine months that patients survived on conventional treatment. Prior to the development of vemurafenib, there had been no new drugs for the treatment of melanoma for more than a decade.

A Goji Berry A-Day Keeps The Wrinkles Away

Goji berries are an indigenous fruit in the Ningxia Hui region of Northern China. These berries are full of vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants and said to be the reason why people in this region have 16 times as many people 100 years old or older than other parts of the country. The explanation: they eat Goji berries everyday! An incredible compliment to your skin anti-aging regimen. Goji berries can be eaten or found in a number of skin care preparations.

How Good Is Your Access To Cancer Care?

According to a study published in the February issue of the Archives Dermatology, counties with more dermatologists have lower rates of deaths from melanoma. In examining 2,472 US counties, researchers found that having 0.001 to one dermatologist per 100,000 people in a county was associated with a 35% lower rate of melanoma deaths. Get to know the dermatologist in your area, and make sure you get you skin screened regularly.

Is This The Beginning Of The Unfashionable Tan?

As London Fashion Week begins in the UK, a miraculous turn of events seems to be taking place. The directors of the leading modeling agencies, including Storm, Elite, Next, Premier Model Management, Models 1, FM, Nevs, Oxygen, Union, First and D1 have all agreed to a zero-tolerance approach to sunbed use for all of their models or those wishing to join their agencies. This comes as a direct response to new data showing the dangers of indoor tanning beds and the significant increased risk of developing melanoma skin cancer associated with their use.


Why should the Fashion Industry's support of Cancer Research UK's initiative to put an end to indoor tanning come as such a shock? What makes these two agencies such strange bed fellows you ask? How does the Fashion Industry influence tanning behavior?

Actually, many researchers believe that the tanning attitudes of the 20th and 21st centuries came as a direct response to cues from the fashion industry in the 1920's. This is the time that Coco Channel announced to the world that it was "chic to have a tan!" Prior to this time, a tan was associated with the working class and outdoor laborers - not the image the fashionista's of the day were striving for.

My own research on tanning attitudes in the early 20th century found that articles and advertisements promoting the fashionable aspects of tanned skin were more numerous in women's fashion magazines in 1928 and 1929 compared to 1927 and 1920. As the number of ads promoting tanned skin rose, those promoting pale skin (by bleaching or protection) seemed to diminish in this same period.
(http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19846688)

The power of the Fashion Industry is truly incredible. With the ability to dictate style and profoundly effect on human behavior, we are no longer talking about what will be 'in' next season. As dermatologists and skin cancer specialists, we commend this bold direction and thank them dearly for their support in our fight against skin cancer - the most common type of cancer that now effects human beings. Above all, we look forward to seeing next season's introduction of the unfashionable tan!

Good Luck Austin Marathoners!

Sanova Dermatology wants to wish all runners participating in the Livestrong Austin Marathon and Half Marathon this weekend the best of luck in your race! While many of you might be thinking bout pace times and hydration, please remember to protect your self while outdoors for long periods and wear sunscreen. Sunburns will slow you down!

Spread It Thicker

Most children do not apply enough sunscreen to protect themselves before they go outside to play.
In a recent study, children applied on average only a quarter of the amount of SPF 30+ sunscreen recommended by manufacturers. The SPF (sun protection factor) of sunscreen depends on the thickness of application so if it is applied too thinly the skin will have substantially lower SPF than one might expect. This is concerning because sun exposure during childhood has been found to be an important risk factor for future skin cancer.  Experts estimate that regular sunscreen use during early life could reduce one's skin cancer risk by up to 80%.

How Old Is Too Old For A Cosmetic Procedure

According to the most recent statistics from the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, more than 7% of cosmetic and plastic surgery procedures were conducted on patients 65 years and older in 2010. That amounts to nearly 684,768 procedures. Patients aged 51 to 64, comprised more than 28 percent of all procedures, totaling 2,610,240.

Those two demographics represented those least likely to feel embarrassed about having cosmetic surgery, according to a study by the ASAPS. Approximately 77% of seniors and 72 percent of people ages between 51 to 64 years old said they would have no problem telling friends and family if they had a procedure.

As expected, the most popular treatments among both demographics were facelifts, followed by blepharoplasties (eyelid tucks), and liposuction.

For non-surgical procedures, Botox led the way. More than 30 percent of all Botox procedures were given to patients older than 50 years.

Eczema And ED?

A new study  published the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that men with eczema appear to be at increased risk for erectile dysfunction (ED), compared to men who do not suffer from the skin condition. Researchers found that approximately 11% of men with ED suffered from eczema prior to receiving their ED diagnosis. In contrast, approximately 7% of controls without ED suffered from eczema. The study authors suggested that men with ED had a 60% increased likelihood of having eczema than those without ED.

Washington State Considering Tanning Ban

Proposed legislation in Washington state would prohibit the use of indoor tanning beds by anyone under 18. California passed a similar bill last year, becoming the first state to ban tanning beds for all minors because of concerns over possible health hazards such as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.
Ten other states restrict teenagers as old as 16 from using tanning beds without permission from their parents. Nine others besides Washington are considering legislation this year that would ban all minors from tanning salons. Washington currently has no age restrictions on indoor tanning beds. Under the proposal, salons would be expected to check IDs.

Smoking And Psoriasis

Smoking has long been thought of as a risk factor for psoriasis. A new study published online by the American Journal of Epidemiology followed about 186,000 men and women for 12 to 20 years and found that current smokers had nearly double the risk of developing psoriasis, compared to those who had never smoked. In addition, past smokers' risk was 39% higher than that of non-smoking participants for developing psoriasis in the study.

More tanning salons than Starbucks in America!

According to ABC news, tanning is a huge, booming business. But "nearly two years ago, the FDA's own experts, along with pediatricians and dermatologists, recommended a ban on indoor tanning for minors. But the tanning lobbyists have spent nearly $500,000 since, defending the industry's health claims. And, so far, no FDA action," despite the fact that "there is no safe indoor tan."

Does The Tanning Salon Industry Lie?

A secret-shopper study by House Democratic staffers found that tanning-salon employees routinely lied about the risks of indoor tanning, and frequently provided misleading informationsuggesting that tanning had health benefits. The investigative report, commissioned by the Energy and Commerce Committee minority staff, involved interviews with 300 salons around the country. Staffers posed as 16-year-old, fair-skinned girls, and asked salons whether tanning was safe, whether it caused cancer specifically, and how often they should visit, among other questions. The study found that salons routinely gave inaccurate information, with some 90% saying that tanning posed no risks to health.  Studies have clearly shown that the risk of melanoma goes up 75% when tanning bed use begins before the age of 30.

Psoriatic Arthritis May Be Helped With Early, Aggressive Treatment

A new review published in the Journal of the of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons noted that psoriatic arthritis can be helped with early aggressive treatment, including biologic therapy. Up to 30%of patients with psoriasis of the skin also suffer from psoriatic arthritis. The reported stated that despite higher medication costs, biologic approaches may be cost-effective because they may reduce or delay the progression o crippling joint destruction.