Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery

Protect and Improve Your Skin

Having a beautiful complexion means paying attention to both cosmetic and clinical skin problems. By protecting your skin from damage and disease and improving it through the right products and treatments, you, too, can achieve a healthy and radiant glow. Talk to your dermatologist to learn more insider skin care suggestions that can help you to reduce imperfections and rejuvenate your complexion.

• Sun damage not only leads to premature aging but also increases your risk of developing skin cancer. Get the facts on skin cancer, including its causes and prevalence, to better understand how to protect your skin and your health.
• If you have acne, you may be trying to improve the appearance of your skin with both medications and make-up. But did you know that your makeup could actually be worsening your acne symptoms?
• Beautiful skin is hydrated skin. Learn more about the importance of moisturizing your skin, and how a moisturizer can improve your skin’s softness, suppleness and overall appearance.

To learn more about clinical and cosmetic treatments for improving your skin, contact Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. To locate an office or dermatologist near you, please visit Advanced Dermatology online or call us today at (866) 400-3376.

How to Care for Your Baby's Sensitive Skin

You’ve heard the expressions: “baby-soft skin” or “soft as a baby’s bottom.” But a baby’s skin is as delicate as it is soft and supple. Because an infant’s skin is thinner than an adult’s, it is more prone to irritation and less resistant to infection. To learn how to keep your child’s skin healthy and protected, watch the informational video below and schedule an appointment with your pediatric dermatologist.

Because baby skin produces less oil, it is more susceptible to dryness. It’s also more prone to sunburn because of low melanin levels. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to protect that delicate skin, starting with bathing your baby less frequently. Excessive bathing can eliminate the natural oils your baby’s skin does produce, leading to irritation and dryness. Between baths, keep your baby’s face, arms, and diaper area clean with a soft, wet cloth.

If you have questions about your child's skin, contact Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. To locate an office or dermatologist near you, please visit Advanced Dermatology online or call us today at (866) 400-3376.

Protect Your Skin with Year-Round Sun Protection

Summer is not the only time you are at risk for damage from the sun, especially here in Florida. While it is widely recognized that sun protection measures are needed for outdoor summer activities, many do not know that protecting your skin from the sun year-round can reduce damage to your skin due to cumulative lifetime sun exposure.  Repeated small amounts of sun exposure from daily activities like driving, shopping, waiting for the bus, gardening, walking the dog, exercising, and sitting on the sidelines at your kid’s sports practice may not cause a sunburn or tan, but add up over months and years to cause sun damage.

There is no such thing as a safe tan. The Skin Cancer Foundation documents the following facts that directly link sun exposure to skin aging and skin cancer:

• More than 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to skin aging are caused by the sun.
• About 90 percent of basal cell and squamous skin cancers and 86 percent of melanomas are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.  
• People who tan indoors just four times per year increase their risk of basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma by 15 percent, and their risk of melanoma by 11 percent.
• Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18.

The first sign of sun damage often is photoaging, which appears as wrinkles, brown spots, and sagging skin. Repeated exposures can lead to precancerous lesions, known as actinic keratoses, and skin cancers. The risk of developing photoaging and skin cancers can be greatly minimized by consistently practicing skin protection measures. The American Academy of Dermatology emphasizes that limiting exposure to ultraviolet light is the most preventable risk factor for photoaging and all skin cancers. Here are some important ways you can help protect your skin:

• Schedule activities to minimize sun exposure between 10am and 4pm. Try gardening or biking in the morning and going to the beach in the late afternoon.
• When you are outside, seek the shade and wear protective clothing like a long-sleeved shirt and pants, broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses.  
• Apply sunscreen to your face, ears, neck, chest, back of your hands and exposed arms every day as part of your morning routine. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen product with an SPF of 30.  Protect your lips too with a lip balm containing sunscreen.
• For outdoor activity, use a broad spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and consider a water resistant product if you will be swimming or sweating.
• Apply at least 1 ounce (imagine a shot glass or the size of a golf ball) of sunscreen to your entire body 15-30 minutes before going outside. Reapply at least every two hours – or sooner after swimming, toweling, or sweating.
• Protect kids by making sun protection a part of their daily routine. Teach children this trick to make sun protection fun:  if their shadow is shorter than their height, then the UV index is high.  When their shadows are short, they should play in the shade and wear sunscreen. But don’t forget that sunscreen is needed on cloudy days too!  Keep newborns out of the sun.
• Do not tan your skin. Like a sunburn, any tanning of the skin, whether from the sun or indoor tanning lamps, is sun damage and increases your risk for photoaging and skin cancer.
• Examine your skin every month. See your dermatologist annually for a skin cancer screening exam, and anytime you find a concerning spot. 

With so many sunscreen products on the market and controversy in the news regarding sunscreen ingredients and labeling, it can be difficult to know which product to buy. Sunscreens help prevent the sun's ultraviolet radiation from reaching the skin by absorbing, reflecting, or scattering sunlight. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of photoaging and skin cancer. UVB is the main cause of sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with photoaging. Exposure to both UVA and UVB increases your risk of skin cancer.

Sunscreen products vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB. Sun Protection Factor (SPF) is a measure of how well a sunscreen prevents UVB from damaging the skin. No SPF offers 100% protection. While higher SPF values give marginally more protection – SPF 2 screens out 50% of UVB rays, SPF 15 screens 93%, SPF 30 screens 97%, SPF 50 screens 98%, and SPF 100 screens 99% -- there is no evidence that SPF values greater than 50 provide additional benefit. The amount of sunscreen you apply and the frequency of re-application, however, are critical. To get the level of SPF protection on the label, 1-2 ounces of product is required to cover the average body. Commonly, people apply much less than the recommended amount. Applying half the amount of sunscreen gives a protection level that is the square root of the SPF level.  For example, if you apply a half- ounce of SPF 30, you are not protected by an SPF of 15, but only 5.5.

Measuring and labeling how well a sunscreen protects from UVA rays is more difficult.  Currently, a consumer must look at the label and recognize the names of UVA-protecting compounds listed as active ingredients.  Look for active ingredients such as titanium oxide, zinc oxide, avobenzone, ecamsule (Mexoryl SXTM), or HelioplexTM or find a product labeled as ‘broad-spectrum,’ which indicates protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Beginning in December 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will implement new rules for sunscreen labeling that include a standardization of the term broad-spectrum. Only broad-spectrum sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher will be able to state that they protect against skin cancer if used as directed with other sun protection measures. Additionally, the FDA will ban companies from claiming that a sunscreen is “waterproof” or “sweat proof.” However, a product may be labeled “water resistant” if it must passes testing to confirm how long a sunscreen keeps its SPF when a person goes in the water or sweats. Over the few months, the packaging and labeling of many products containing sunscreen may look different due to updated labels that consumers should find easier to read and understand. 

The critical concept is that sun avoidance is the foundation of protection. In addition to limiting exposure, physical protection from shade, clothing, hats, and sunglasses, as well as daily application of sunscreen to the areas of skin not covered by clothing is recommended to minimize cumulative daily sun exposure. Additional sunscreen and repeated applications is required for all outdoor activities. Sunscreen should be applied generously and reapplied often. If insufficient sunscreen is applied, the level of protection is significantly decreased. Just as it takes two coats of paint to cover a wall, try applying two coats – one at home 30 minutes before your outdoor activity and again at the start of your activity. This technique helps to avoid missed spots and increases the likelihood that coverage will be adequate. And remember, all sunscreens must be reapplied every two hours, regardless of SPF strength, or even sooner after sweating, swimming, and toweling dry.

You can find more details about sunscreen products and ingredients, skin cancer prevention, and how to examine your skin at the websites of the American Academy of Dermatology (www.aad.org), the Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincancer.org), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov), or the World Health Organization (www.who.int).

By Dr. Kristen Stewart  

Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery                                      

Jacksonville - St. Luke's Hospital Area

What is a Hemangioma?

Many children are born with birthmarks, and developing one during infancy is not uncommon. In most cases, these birthmarks are entirely benign and present no cause for concern. One common birthmark that generally forms after birth is a hemangioma, which looks like a soft, raised lump that resembles a blister. If this birthmark appears, consult with your pediatric dermatologist; this birthmark sometimes shrinks on its own after a few months, but your dermatologist may recommend treatment if it continues to grow.

• Symptoms: Hemangiomas are sometimes referred to as “strawberry birthmarks” because of their similarity in appearance, size, and color to the fruit. A hemangioma generally is not visible at birth but will develop during the child’s first year, beginning as a flat, red mark that becomes a spongy protrusion. Hemangiomas are formed by extra blood vessels or cells in the skin.
• Causes and Risk Factors: Medical professionals are still uncertain of what causes blood vessels to clump together to form a hemangioma. Some research links production of certain proteins in the placenta to development of this type of birthmark. Hemangiomas are also more common with multiple births and in female, premature, and Caucasian infants.
• Potential Complications: In some cases, hemangiomas may present complications. If the birthmark bleeds, develops a sore, becomes firm, or appears infected, consult your child’s dermatologist. Due to its location, a hemangioma could interfere with the child’s vision, hearing, or breathing, though this is rare.
• Treatments: Most hemangiomas resolve on their own without medical intervention. According to the Mayo Clinic, nearly all hemangiomas resolve by age 10 and half of all hemangiomas disappear by age five. Though the redness of the birthmark will fade, faint but permanent discoloration may occur.

Even though this type of birthmark often fades gradually without treatment, some parents may be concerned that their children will suffer socially if a hemangioma is not removed. If you have this concern, your dermatologist may recommend corticosteroid medication or laser treatment. If the hemangioma presents health complications such as infection, your dermatologist may take steps to remove the birthmark.

If you are concerned about your child's birthmark, contact Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. To locate an office or dermatologist near you, please visit Advanced Dermatology online or call us today at (866) 400-3376.

3 Truths about Skin Cancer

Like other cancers, skin cancer develops from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells. And like some other cancers, skin cancer is also preventable. Whether you tan or simply fail to use sunscreen, exposure to UV radiation can damage your skin cells, leading to potentially harmful genetic mutations and tumors. To help keep your skin protected, visit your dermatologist for a yearly skin cancer screening and for more facts about this disease.

Skin Cancer is the Most Common Form of Cancer

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, skin cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. Every year, over two million people are diagnosed with this potentially life-threatening disease. In fact, over the past 31 years, skin cancer has accounted for more diagnoses than all other cancers combined. The American Cancer Society estimates that melanoma, the most severe form of skin cancer, will account for over 75,000 cases of skin cancer in 2012. Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are considered non-melanomas but still pose a risk of death if not treated early.

Skin Cancer is Highly Treatable if Diagnosed Early

When melanoma is detected and treated early, before the tumor penetrates the skin, the survival rate for patients is about 99%. Common symptoms of skin cancer include: waxy or pearly bumps, large brownish spots, small lesions with irregular borders and coloration, moles that change in color or size or that bleed, and flat lesions with crusty or scaly surfaces. Signs of skin cancer often appear on the face, neck, ears, shoulders, and scalp, but this form of cancer can develop nearly anywhere. Detailed visual examinations by a board-certified dermatologist can help allow for the early detection and treatment of skin cancer.

You Can Lower Your Risk for Skin Cancer

Though some patients, especially those with a family history of skin cancer, are genetically predisposed to a higher risk for skin cancer, there are steps that everyone can take to protect themselves. For starters, avoid going outside when the sun is at its most intense, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Even if you will only be outside for a short time, be sure to apply and reapply sunblock, wear a hat, put on sunglasses, cover up as much as possible, and seek shaded areas.

For more information about preventing and treating skin cancer, contact Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. To locate an office or dermatologist near you, please visit Advanced Dermatology online or call us today at (866) 400-3376.