Drinking Caffeinated Coffee Linked to Lower Risk of Skin Cancer

Good news for all you coffee addicts out there!

A recent study involving 113,000 participants over a 20-year period found that people who drink three or more cups of caffeinated coffee a day have a 20 percent lower risk of getting basal cell carcinoma than those who don’t drink caffeinated coffee.

Each year, 2.8 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer. Within that number, basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer.

For researchers and dermatologists alike, this is an exciting development in skin cancer research. “Caffeine may help the body kill off damaged skin cells,” said Dr. Josh Zeichner, assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. "If you get rid of these cells that are damaged, then they don't have the opportunity to grow and form cancers."

Overall, researchers identified caffeine as the key ingredient in reducing a person’s risk of getting basal cell carcinoma; when participants drank decaffeinated coffee, they did not experience the same benefits. In addition to coffee, other caffeinated items like soda, tea and chocolate were also linked to a lower risk of obtaining basal cell carcinoma.

Dr. Zeichner noted this discovery is intriguing, but people should not immediately go out and drink coffee and soda by the gallons. At this time, Zeichner and other researchers believe additional research needs to be conducted on this subject.

Best and Worst Cities for Skin

A recent study by Daily Glow revealed the best and worst cities in America for your skin. The cities that ranked at the top of the list tend to have little sunshine and low ozone rates.  The worst cities for skin are hot, dry and have a lot of sunshine. Specifically, California contains three of the five worst cities for your skin in the country.

Daily Glow determined that Portland, Oregon, is the best city for your skin due to low pollution and ozone rates.  Las Vegas, Nevada, is the worst city for your skin due to the high population of smokers and high amounts of sunshine. Although Greenville was not included in this study, researchers found nearby Charlotte, North Carolina, to be the seventh worst city in the country for your skin because of high ozone and pollution levels.

As reported on Good Morning America, the study looked at the 55 biggest cities in America and determined the rankings based on the number of melanoma cases, percentage of smokers and number of dermatologists per capita. The study also took into account the amount of tanning salons per capita, climate conditions, air pollution and ozone rates.

Below are the top five best and worst cities for your skin:

Best Cities for your Skin:

1.       Portland, Oregon

2.      San Francisco, California

3.      Seattle, Washington

4.      Baltimore, Maryland

5.       Chicago, Illinois

Worst Cities for your Skin:

1.       Las Vegas, Nevada

2.      Phoenix, Arizona

3.      Fresno, California

4.      Sacramento, California

5.       Los Angeles, California

Skin Tips for Summer

It’s summertime, and that means more outdoor activities and, unfortunately, more sunburns. I always tell my patients to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater and to stay protected in the sun; however, did you know that certain foods can also improve and protect your skin if you are burned? Two recent articles in Martha Stewart Magazine  and Whole Living  revealed numerous ways to reduce or prevent a sunburn.

One way to help rid of a burn or a sunspot is by watching your sugar intake. Consuming less sugar will help reduce the imbalance of skin discolorations and sunspots. Additionally, to reduce the chances of getting melanoma by 5 percent, drink two cups of coffee a day. Drinking caffeinated coffee can potentially help self-destruct precancerous cells in the body. Alongside coffee, caffeinated green tea is a recommended to drink before going out into the sun. Polyphenols, active compounds found in green tea, can help fight against UV radiation.

Eating your fruits and vegetables is another great way to fight sunburns or sunspots. Tomatoes, carrots and broccoli are healthy foods that can help reduce inflammation after a sunburn. Eating grapes and berries is another way to reduce inflammation. The skin on the grapes and berries contain a strong anti-inflammatory compound to help reduce sunspots and sunburns. Lastly, using herbs and spices in your food can help reduce inflammation and redness on the skin.

Give these tips a try and consult Dr. Miller and his knowledgeable staff with any additional questions you have to keep your summer skin at its healthiest!

Solutions for Minimizing Scars

For some, scars get in the way of one’s daily life and can bring along feelings of self-consciousness.  At Greenville Dermatology we offer a range of options that can help with the disappearance of your blemishes. Whether your scar is from acne, an accident, or a surgical procedure, we care about helping our patients find solutions to the pesky facial marks that don’t seem to go away.

One option we use at Greenville Dermatology to diminish scarring is through the use of fractional laser technology. The Palomar ICON laser has been a successful solution for scar removal for many of our patients.  Laser scar removal with Palomar is appropriate for use on all skin types, we use pulses of laser light to coagulate scar tissue and trigger healthy new tissue to form in clients' skin. Healing time is minimal, infection risk is eliminated and little to no pain is felt.

Retinoids can also help reduce scar thickness and redness. Greenville Dermatology offers both topical and oral Retinoids which can not only diminish scarring, but can also prevent future acne outbreaks.

For more solutions to scarring and acne, make an appointment with Greenville Dermatology today so we can evaluate your scar and find the best option for you.

Teens Justify Tanning Beds

A recent research article conducted by the Archives of Dermatology found that college students don’t see tanning beds as a health threat due to the fact that dangers exist everywhere in our society.

In a survey conducted, researchers discovered that 59% of the 600 college students polled agreed with the sentence “tanning bed use can make me ill, but everything causes cancer these days.” Furthermore, 52% of the students polled believed that “tanning bed use is no more risky than lots of other things that people do.”

With this attitude, researchers and scientists alike agree something needs to be done about justifying these rationalizations. “The type of thinking that there is danger all around you, and hence unavoidable, is a common way of justifying risky behaviors," said behavioral scientist Smita Banerjee, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.  

For Banerjee, it’s important to understand what drives a college student when rationalizing their actions. Once this is understood, healthcare professionals can create a stronger awareness on important issues.

When MSNBC reported this story on June 18, they also posted related videos about the new dangers of spray tanning. With more stories and research coming out about the dangers of alternative tanning we recommend that you practice moderation and stay up to date on breaking stories. For more information about the potential dangers of tanning, contact Dr. Miller at Greenville Dermatology.

Spray Tanning May Pose Serious Health Risks

In the past, Greenville Dermatology has mentioned the benefits of spray tanning versus traditional tanning beds. However, recent findings conducted by a panel of ten medical experts show that spray tanning may have potential dangers and pose serious health risks.

According to the panel, dihydoroxyacetone (DHA), an active chemical in spray tanning solutions can cause DNA damage and genetic alterations on a cellular level.

“These compounds in some cells could actually promote the development of cancers or malignancies," said Dr. Rey Panettiere, a toxicologist and lung specialist at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine.  "And if that's the case then we need to be wary of them” said Panettiere.

According to ABC News, DHA should not be inhaled or digested. After launching an investigation, ABC News found that a lot of tanning salons do not offer nose plugs or mouth protectors to prevent inhalation or digestion of the fumes. Furthermore, the FDA only approves DHA in tanning lotions and not the DHA in spray tanning.

More studies need to be conducted before any real recommendations are made.  It is not known at this time how much spray tanning, if any, can be done before levels become hazardous.  I will certainly be monitoring any developments and for now recommend moderation.

Will you give the gift of “BRO-TOX” for Father’s Day?

BOTOX® is the most common cosmetic procedure in America right now. Over 11 million men and women are using this minimally invasive injectable to improve the look of moderate-to-severe frown lines between the brows. Lasting anywhere from four months to a year, this might be the perfect solution for your Dad this Father’s Day.

In the past, BOTOX® has been perceived as a predominately female procedure; however, increasingly more men are opting for BOTOX® to smooth away their fine lines and wrinkles. According to The American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 363,000 men received BOTOX® in 2011 and 337,000 men received BOTOX® in 2010.  In fact, more men in 2010 chose BOTOX® treatment than any other form of cosmetic surgery or enhancement. The rise of BOTOX® by male patients has been labeled as “BRO-TOX.”


If you think your Dad is too manly for “BRO-TOX”, think again. Not only does it reduce fine lines and wrinkles, but BOTOX® also helps manage migraines, headaches, muscle spasms and excessive sweating.  Men also tend to prefer Botox because the effects are temporary, lasting only three to four months. Good Morning America recently investigated the trend of “BRO-TOX,” check out their segment to see why BOTOX® might be the perfect gift for your dad this Father’s Day.

Call Greenville Dermatology to secure a gift certificate for your Dad or book an appointment with Dr. Miller today.