Neocutis Spring Package

 

Neocutis Spring Package

 

For only $150, you can get the following:

• Lumere Riche Eye Cream
• Bio-Serum Pen
• Reusable EyeSwirl
• Green Spring Tote

This package is valued at $335! Buy this package Greenville Dermatology today.

A Single Skin Exam Could Save Your Life

Did you know that visiting a dermatologist for a skin exam just one time could save your life? According to a recent review of more than 400 skin cancer cases, a single skin exam may significantly reduce the odds of invasive melanoma, an advanced form of skin cancer where the cancer cells penetrate into surrounding tissues.

The study, performed by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, reviewed the medical records of 400 adult patients with newly diagnosed melanoma. Patients who had visited a dermatology clinic at least once were 37 percent less likely to have invasive disease at melanoma diagnosis than patients who had not undergone a professional skin exam prior to diagnosis.

A skin exam was also associated with an approximate 25 percent reduction in lesion thickness at diagnosis. Overall patients with melanoma who had visited a dermatologist’s office had a better prognosis than those without a history of past dermatologic examination.

“Our research suggests that patients benefit from even a single total body skin examination, which may be due to increased skin self-awareness or education about melanoma by the dermatologist,” said Jacqueline Moreau, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Pittsburgh.

Among the patients studied, those who had visited the dermatologist had a higher rate of self-detection of noninvasive skin cancer, which suggests dermatologists play a critical role in educating individuals about the risk of skin cancer.

"Dermatologists should recognize that total body skin examinations are opportunities not only to detect melanoma but also to educate patients so they can detect their own melanomas at earlier, more treatable stages,” said Moreau.

Researchers found that the benefit of the dermatology visit was independent of its timing. They observed no significant difference in melanoma invasiveness or depth between individuals who had seen their dermatologists less than one year versus more than one year prior to diagnosis.

The results of this study are clear: you should never underestimate the benefit of visiting your dermatologist! Early diagnosis via skin examination affords the best protection against fatal melanoma, even if optimal timing and frequency of skin exams remains unclear. To make an appointment today with Greenville Dermatology, call (864) 282-5872.

Aspirin Lowers Melanoma Risk in Women

 

Want to decrease your chance of developing a deadly skin cancer? The solution could already be hiding in your medicine cabinet. According to a recent study, women who regularly take aspirin have a 21 percent lower risk of developing melanoma than those who do not take the drug.

 

The study, which was conducted by researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine, was the largest study ever to explore new ways to prevent melanoma. The study focused on the data of roughly 60,000 women ages 50-79 who volunteered to provide information about their lives (such as activity, diet, medication and sun exposure history) for a period of 12 years.

 

The researchers found that women who took aspirin decreased their risk of developing melanoma by an average of 21 percent. Moreover, investigators found that the protective effect of aspirin also increased over time, with patients demonstrating an 11 percent risk reduction at one year, a 22 percent risk reduction between one and four years, and up to a 30 percent risk reduction at five years or more. These results held true for aspirin use only and did not apply to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (known as NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

 

“There’s a lot of excitement about this because aspirin has already been shown to have protective effects on cardiovascular disease and colorectal cancer in women,” said senior author Jean Tang, MD, PhD, in a press release. “This is one more piece of the prevention puzzle.”

 

So how does it work? Tang said one way aspirin may prevent melanoma is through its anti-inflammatory effects. These effects are why aspirin may also prevent heart attacks and stroke, since both are the result of arteries becoming blocked and unable to deliver oxygen-rich blood to the heart and brain. Aspirin combats the effect of platelets, the blood cells that help blood clot, therefore reducing the number of heart attacks and strokes.   

 

While the results sound promising, Tang isn’t ready to say an aspirin a day will keep melanoma away. Tang noted that it is still unknown how much aspirin should be taken and for how long.

 

Whatever the case may be, doctors agree that aspirin use still doesn’t replace using sunscreen to prevent skin cancer. As warmer weather approaches, be sure to choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays with an SPF of 30 or higher.

Resveratrol Provides Anti-Aging Benefits

A breaking study shows that indulging in red wine and dark chocolate may actually make you look younger. Resveratrol, a natural plant compound found in grapes and cocoa, has long been known to combat the effects of obesity, diabetes and even certain cancers. However, scientists have now confirmed that resveratrol also provides anti-aging benefits.

The study, which was published earlier this month in Science, shows that resveratrol stimulates a group of enzymes known as sirtuin, which can trigger proteins that rejuvenate cells. The new study, led by David Sinclair of the Harvard Medical School, found that resveratrol influences sirtuin directly, although in a more complicated way than previously thought. He found that resveratrol works by modifying the shape of the sirtuin proteins in the cell, activating them to speed up the cell’s energy production centers known as mitochondria.

In an article by CBS News, Sinclair commented, “We’re finding that aging isn’t the irreversible affliction that we thought it was. Some of us could live to 150, but we won’t get there without more research.”

Researchers have also figured out which gene allows resveratrol to produce the sirtuin and believe that some drugs in the future may be able to provide the same anti-aging benefits as well. Pharmaceutical companies have already invested millions of dollars in research to study resveratrol in an attempt to find the secret against aging and disease.

Since these drugs aren’t available yet, what’s the best source of resveratrol? You can’t go wrong eating foods rich in the compound such as the following:

·         Grape skins and seeds

·         Grapes and grape juice, particularly red grapes

·         Red wine and dealcoholized red wine

·         Blueberries

·         Nuts and peanuts
 

 

And if you have a sweet tooth, don’t forget about dark chocolate. Levels of resveratrol found in cocoa and dark chocolate are second to red wine among known sources of resveratrol. Just remember to moderate portion sizes since chocolate can be high in calories.

 

Who knew anti-aging could taste so sweet?

Scientists Look for Ways to Measure the Age of Your Skin

Every day we look in the mirror and see that wrinkle or fine line that we wish would just disappear. We stare back at our reflection and wonder why we hadn’t done things differently in our youth. We long to go back in time and apply sunscreen with SPF 30 instead of tanning oil. While that might have helped, we know that aging is a natural process.

There are two distinct types of aging — intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic aging is caused by genetics. This is typically known as the natural aging process, or chronological aging. It is continuous and usually begins in our mid-20s. Around this age, collagen production slows down, elastin because less elastic and dead skin cells prevent quick turnover of new skin cells because they don’t shed as quickly as they once did.. The good news, though, is that while aging begins early in life, the signs may not be visible for several years. These indicators include fine lines and wrinkles, thin or translucent skin, loss of underlying fat, and hollow cheeks and dry skin. How quickly these signs appear merely depends on genetics.

Extrinsic aging is caused by environmental factors, such as exposure to sun, smoking, air pollution and other external factors affecting our skin. The most detrimental of these factors is exposure to radiation from sunlight and, because of this, extrinsic aging is sometimes called photoaging.

While we know the causes of aging, scientists are now beginning to find standardized ways to measure the damage that aging causes to the skin.

A study published in Optical Society of America’s open-access journal, Biomedical Optics Express, described how a group of Taiwanese scientists used a special microscope to peer under the skin’s surface to measure age-related changes in the size of skin cells. Researchers believe this process will help measure the effectiveness of ‘anti-aging’ skin products.

The researchers studied 52 subjects from ages 19 to 79 years old using a technique known as harmonic generation microscopy (HGM). This technique has previously been used to study developing embryos. It works by sending a concentrated beam of photons into a material and studying the “harmonics” or vibrations of the protons. These harmonics can show different structures at very high resolution. As a result, the researchers were able to produce a high-resolution map of the tissue that revealed the structures within the skin cells.  

In an article in Medical News Today, distinguished professor at National Taiwan University and chief director of the university's Molecular Imaging Center Chi-Kuang Sun stated, “No one has ever seen through a person's skin to determine his or her age from their skin. Our finding serves as a potential index for skin age." 

Using HGM to create an index will help doctors determine the true age of the skin and serve as a tool to evaluate and monitor the overall health of the skin.

With researchers peering into the past through our skin, it makes us wonder if our younger selves would have taken advantage if they had a crystal ball to see the future. What if your 20-year-old self could have seen the damage and aging as it was happening?

An Acne Treatment You May Not Know About

According to a recent article in The Wall Street Journal, adult acne affects 40 to 50 million people in the U.S., and that number is growing. It is not uncommon for teens to experience acne, but acne can be particularly frustrating and embarrassing for adults. About 20 percent of women and 30 percent of men ages 20 to 60 years old have acne, according to the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

Greenville Dermatology offers one of the leading treatments for adult acne – aminolevulinic acid (ALA) combined with a light therapy. While many people may not have heard of ALA, this compound was discovered more than a decade ago and is now considered a first-line treatment. ALA is produced naturally in our bodies and has a photo-sensitizing effect, which means that it makes the skin more sensitive to light.

During ALA application at Greenville Dermatology, ALA is applied to the patient’s skin and absorbed by hair follicles and oil glands. The treated skin is then exposed to a light, which kills bacteria in the pores and shrinks the oil glands that produce sebum, an oily substance that clogs pores and attracts bacteria – in other words, the primary cause of acne. The light is significantly more effective in treating acne when the skin has been sensitized to the light through the application of the cream containing ALA. While the ALA treatment shrinks the cells that produce oil, it does so without damaging any surrounding cells.

Adult acne can be difficult to treat because there are so many causes. Treatment with ALA is perfect for patients whose skin produces too much sebum, resulting in clogged pores and inflammation. Another main cause is an imbalance of hormones, which is why women often have breakouts during menstruation, pregnancy and the various stages of menopause.

While ALA is one of the most effective treatments against acne, it is not currently covered by insurance. However, it is an affordable treatment and we invite you to come in today to discuss your options. For more information, call us at 864-242-5872.

The Skin Cancer Foundation Busts Myths about Vitamin D and Sun Exposure

Vitamin D is often called the “sunlight” vitamin because the body produces it when the sun’s ultraviolet B (UVB) rays are absorbed through the skin. The vitamin is essential for strengthening bones and building a healthy immune system, but it is often used as an excuse to justify sun exposure and tanning. However, according to a recent statement from the Skin Cancer Foundation, the healthiest and most effective way to absorb vitamin D is by eating a balanced diet and taking vitamin supplements. The Foundation also stated that sun exposure actually weakens the immune system, countering one of the key benefits of vitamin D.

“The misconception that exposure to UVB radiation is the optimal source of vitamin D puts people at risk for potentially life-threatening skin cancer,” Dr. Perry Robins, President of the Skin Cancer Foundation, said in the statement. “Furthermore, in most cases the body stops producing Vitamin D after just a few minutes of sun exposure.”
 

The Skin Cancer Foundation article listed some myths and facts related to vitamin D, sun exposure and tanning:
 

Myth: UVB radiation is a good source of vitamin D.

Fact: We can produce only a limited amount of vitamin D from UVB radiation. For Caucasians, that limit is reached after just five to 10 minutes of midday sun exposure.¹ After reaching the limit, further exposure will not increase the amount of vitamin D in the body. Rather, it has the opposite effect: the vitamin D stored in the body begins to break down, leading to lower vitamin D levels. ⁴

Myth: Sun exposure is the only source of vitamin D.

Fact: Vitamin D can be obtained from oily fish (like salmon, fresh tuna, trout and sardines) and cod liver oil, as well as from fortified orange juice and milk, yogurts, and some cereals. Supplements are readily available and inexpensive.

Myth: Tanning beds are a healthy option for boosting vitamin D levels.

Fact: The indoor tanning industry often makes the false claim that indoor tanning is helpful for vitamin D production. In reality, vitamin D is received through exposure to UVB rays; the bulbs used in tanning beds mainly emit UVA rays. Tanning beds are a known carcinogen. Just one indoor UV tanning session increases users’ chances of developing melanoma by 20 percent, and each additional session during the same year boosts the risk almost another two percent. ⁵

For more information about skin cancer prevention and vitamin D, visit SkinCancer.org.

¹ Wolpowitz D, Gilchrest BA. The vitamin D questions: how much do you need and how should you get it? J Am Acad Dermatol 2006; 54:301-17.