Black Diamonds Can Sparkle Too!

The Winter Holiday Season is often synonymous with family getaways and vacations. While many head down to the the sun and sand, others prefer the the fun and challenge of the ski slopes. Even those who enjoy the snow and powder need to remember to protect their skin against harmful UV rays. In fact, the sun's reflection off snow and ice can cause sunburn and significant damage to your skin. Whether you're headed to the double black diamond or bunny hill, remember to cover up, apply sunscreen, and protect your skin and eyes from dangerous UV rays on the hills!

Cancer Survivors May Be At Increased Risk For Melanoma

A study published in the December issue of the Archives of Dermatology has found that survivors of non-skin cancers also may have an increased risk of melanoma. Investigators found that patients previously diagnosed with melanoma had the highest risk for getting melanoma again. Other cancers that put patients at risk included ocular melanoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer, lymphoma and leukemia. If you have a history of melanoma or other cancer, make sure you get your skin checked regularly by a dermatologist.

Increased Skin Cancer Risk In Women Who Smoke

A new study published online in Cancer Causes Control has found a link between tobacco use and skin cancer. Researchers found that women who had squamous cell skin cancer were more likely to have smoked than those who were free from the disease. Women who smoked at least 20 years were twice as likely to develop squamous cell skin cancer.

IBD Paients May Be At Increased Risk Of SKin Cancer

According to the results of two new studies published in the November issue of the journal Gastroenterology, some patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may be at increased risk for skin cancer. Investigators suggest that this is due to their use of certain immunosuppressant drugs used to treat the intestinal disorder. Specifically, IBD patients using thiopurines had a significantly increased risk of non-melanoma skin cancer. The second study found that men with Crohn's disease may already be at increased risk for basal cell carcinoma. The use of thiopurines seemed to increases this risk in this study.

Facial Blemishes May Influence Success Of A Job Interview

According to a study published online in the Journal of Applied Psychology, "birthmarks, scars and other facial blemishes may make it harder for people to land a job." In a study involving 170 people conducting sham job interviews, researchers found that "the more the interviewers' attention was distracted by facial blemishes, the less they remembered about the job candidate and the lower they rated them." A second experiment involved 38 full-time managers who "conducted face-to-face interviews with job candidates who had a facial birthmark. All the managers had experience interviewing people for jobs but were still distracted by the birthmarks."

US Doctors to Counsel Youth to Avoid UV Rays.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force has proposed guidelines suggesting that physicians, particularly primary care physicians, talk to young people with fair skin about protecting themselves from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays. This comes just months after the World Health Organization, along with the American Academy of Dermatology and other medical groups, called for a ban on indoor tanning. Don't wait until the damage is done. Start protecting your skin today!

Hiding Psoriatic Nails with Purple Nail Polish? Try Indigo.

According to a new study published in the journal Dermatology, application of indigo naturalis ointment, extracted from the leaves of indigo-bearing plants such as Baphicacanthus cusia and Polygonum tinctorium, may improve the symptoms of nail psoriasis. In the study, 28 patients with nail psoriasis applied one drop of the extract to their affected nails twice a day for 24 weeks. Researchers found that the patients Nail Psoriasis Severity decreased significantly from baseline. The investigators suggested that indigo naturalis extract could be an effective treatment for psoriatic nails.

Concerned About Crow's Feet? Try Soy!

A soy-derived supplement called may help smooth crow's feet around the eyes. In a new study involving 101 women who were past menopause, researchers found that individuals who took a soy-derived supplement experienced some smoothing of the wrinkles around their eyes. Women in who were treated with a placebo in the study did not.

Tanning Beds Further Linked To Skin Cancer Risk

According to new research presented at the AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, the more you use a tanning bed, the higher your risk of deadly skin cancers. Investigators found that for every four visits per year to a tanning booth, the risk for basal and squamous cell carcinoma increased 15% and the risk for melanoma rose 11%. Researchers also found that using tanning booths in the younger age range, during high school and college, had a stronger effect on cancer risk.

A Coffee-A-Day Keeps the Skin Cancer Away!

According to research presented at the American Association for Cancer Research International Conference, drinking coffee was associated with decreased risk of developing basal cell carcinoma, the most common form of skin cancer. Data from two studies that followed 72,921 people between 1984 and 2008, and 39,976 people between 1986 and 2008, found that people who drank more than three cups of coffee had a 9-20% reduction in risk for basal cell carcinoma. Drinking decaffeinated coffee did not have any effect on skin cancer risk, which leads researchers to suspect caffeine cold be the key ingredient.