Melanoma Prevention

Melanoma is often a local disease which can be managed easily, but some cases are more agressive. Melanoma is currently the fifth and seventh most common cancer in American men and women, respectively, and it has become more frequent.  Sun exposure and genetic predisposition are the two most common causes. In simple terms it is due to a growth of the pigment producing cells of the skin called melanocytes. These melanocyte cells of the skin produce pigment in the form of melanin in response to stimuli such as ultraviolet (UV) light. Melanocytes also make the pigment that determines skin and hair color. Individuals with pigmented spots, moles or lesions are best served by having regular skin check ups, that only last a few minutes. An interesting study
Researchers report in a new study, published online in the journal Cancer, that included 59,806 women ages 50 to 79, regular aspirin use decreases cases of melanoma.  After controlling for sun exposure, sunscreen use, a history of skin cancer and many other factors, the researchers found that women who reported using aspirin had an average 21 percent lower risk of melanoma compared with nonusers, and the longer they used aspirin, the lower their risk. The senior author, Dr. Jean Y. Tang, an assistant professor of dermatology at Stanford, pointed out that the study was observational and not a clinical trial, and correlation does not equal causation. “It’s an important finding for high-risk women to discuss with their doctors,” she said, “but it’s way too early to recommend that everyone go take aspirin to prevent melanoma." Dr. Suzanne Trupin, at Hada Cosmetic Medicine states that aspirin use may be useful heart protection for some women, and that coming in for a consultation regarding your overall health can help determine if you should take it, and at what dosage.

Brotox? What A Guy Wants to Know

Want to improve your impassive poker demeanor? Want to appear less tired? Want to sweat less in those tense situations? These are some of the many reasons, not directly cosmetic that men turn to the use of Botox. Since many men keep their cards close to their chest, the use of botox in men , just like some of the other secrets of looking on top of your game, has jokingly been referred to as "Brotox" or simply Botox for men. Medically there are many uses of Botox including the injection of  Brotox under your arms or in your hands, to reduce sweating, or in your soles to reduce planter facial pain, or in your neck to relax the pain of migraines, to name a few. Botox's mechanism of action is simple: it will inhibit the ability of a nerve to make a muscle fire. As a result of botox a particular muscle will then relax. That relaxation will change the configuration of that muscle, and in turn will allow other muscles of the region to take ofer. For instance we know to some extent tight biceps can constrict a triceps, and vice versa , and you use a coach to determine if you want to build a biceps or a triceps. And so to with your medical injector: they determine to what extent you want to enhance the frontalis, the corrugator, the procerus or the depressor muscles of your forehead to enhance a handsome, poised, and naturally relaxed look. And so it goes for the rest of the facial and neck muscles, proper fine tuning will allow you to look facially toned, not pained! If you begin your Brotox with established rhytides the effects will be corrective, but more subtle. If you begin in your Brotox youth, you will have all your secrets well protected, as the work is more preventative than corrective, and really, only your injector will know! There are risks to the injections, although most extremely minor, and it's important to be well informed of potential risks and get an experienced injector to help minimize those risks. Proper technique will not only help you achieve your wanted results, the results will be longer lasting. So be a bro, and see what the Botox can do for you.

HPV Disease Not a Cause of Melanoma In This Study

 

Melanomas are on the rise, and one reason for this has begun to be investigated. HPV infections are known to cause a variety of both genital and oral cancers. Skin cancers have a variety of contributing factors including the amount of sun UV ray exposure, the health of your immune system, light skin color and certain precancerous skin diseases as well as the genetic background of the host. As it has been known that HPV as a virus that can exist in the skin layers researchers have been specifically looking at whether this could be a cause or perhaps co-factor in the development of cancer of the skin, including melanoma and malignant melanoma. In 2005 British researchers though they found a link between high risk HPV disease and melanomas.  French researchers are attempting to answer the question as prior studies haven't conclusively shown the answer one way or the other if there is any involvement of HPV in melanoma. The French study looked at one hundred patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma. They excised the disease and then looked at  68 different HPV types did not obtain more HPV in the skin of patients with or without the melanoma. In all about 40% of patients had HPV DNA that could be found in the skin. The researchers felt they could say they didn't see a role for HPV as a cause of melanoma, but confirm the previous data suggesting that HPV DNA is widely distributed among the population and that silent HPV infections patients are unaware of indeed are frequent. They feel there is more work to be done. It can be that specific types of HPV is linked to disease in a way we have not yet understood. Still we remind our patients, have us do a check if you have any new or changing skin lesions, and do come in for consultation regarding protection against UV ray exposure.

Ultrasound Your Legs To Discover Cause of Varicose Veins

Before you decide whether to laser, coagulate, or inject your varicose veins, find out if you have another medical cause. If you have a cause for the swelling, leg pain, and varicose veins then there are differences in what treatments are likely to work. For many of us the cause is poor leg circulation due to the valves of the legs being weak and causing back flow to the veins. A painless, and fairly rapid study to determine the cause is an ultrasound of the legs. This requires no preparation, and can help direct treatment. The treatments can range from support stockings, to injections, to laser or radiofrequency treatments. Some of the veins can be treated superficially, others require endovenous procedures.

Sunshine Creates a Yin Yang Face

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2012/08/spray-tan-doctor-discusses-safe.html?goback=%2Egde_3329927_member_145634154

In this interesting article the picture tells the story of how sun exposure radically changes one's skin.

B12 Shots and Your Skin

Vitamins and our nutrition is one of the most important components of glowing and healthy skin. Your skin treatments will always be more effective if you have proper diet. Generally speaking: if you are healthy and eat a varied and balanced diet you will have the nutrients you need. But over time, and with dietary issues, imbalances may occur and you may nee testing to see where your deficiencies really are. At Women's Health Practice many vitamin levels can be tested, but testing for B vitamin deficiencies can be helpful in planning diet changes and the need for supplements. Even those who aren't deficient may benefit from a boost of certain  trace minerals and B vitamins and B12 has been used for a variety of treatments including for fatigue. B12 only comes from animal products: meat and dairy. Vegans are most susceptible to B12 deficiencies and need supplements to avoid the special types of anemia that is due to B12 deficiency. Classically it is thought that most of the deficiency symptoms from B12 are neurological, but there are cases of people going prematurely grey from deficiency as well. A new article from the Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Gastroenterology Unit, University of Naples "Federico II" in Italy, and colleagues report their findings in a study published online on July 17 in Gut, has discovered that actually treating with B12 helps viral treatments against Hepatitis C. Others are trying these shots to help those suffering from an acute case of herpes, thinking that the same viral boosting fighting power may work for this too. So it's something that could be tried for cold sores and post laser treatment for those who always break out in a herpes infection after those treatments.

Your Thyroid And Your Skin

Sometimes it isn't the products you have been using, or the slight sun blush of summer, or the fact that you had a bit too many late nights this month that is getting your skin out of control, there are other causes.One cause you may not have associated with skin problems could be thyroid disease.Low or under active thyroid can cause dry skin, but most often it is described as "coarse." Those with over active thyroid can have changes of the skin as well, and even more symptoms due to thyroid problems can be seen. Some times the excess thyroid hormone can produce sweating and a redness to the skin, similar to blushing from the heat. This can actually happen to those who have an under active thyroid, but are given too high a thyroid dose of medicine. In overactive thyroid patients they may describe their skin as too oddly smooth, this is because the layer of keratin on top of the skin is abnormally thin. This lack of keratin can produce skin that too easily burns as well. Over active thyroid also can cause an odd skin condition called myxedma. It is a puffiness of the skin in the areas that it occurs. The puffiness is actually due to odd extra layers of collagen or even the entrapment of natural hyaluronic acid in skin layers where it is not supposed to occur. Graves disease, a condition of overactive thyroid that also has high abnormal antibodies circulating in the skin can produce a special red bumpy skin condition, that is usually only on the shins. Some patients with these thyroid abnormalities can report itching, or the odd appearance of hives which were not detected before. The thyroid conditions, particularly overactive, can cause abnormally metabolizing other hormones, so that imbalances occur in other systems, like your cortisol. Not so much a result of the thyroid itself, but the cortisol metabolism can be off causing changes in skin pigmentation, and even the new odd appearance of stretch marks. For those who have had a gradual decline in thyroid function, this may not be obvious, but you might want to consider testing if your treatments for your skin conditions are not working. Particularly if your hair or nails are showing changes as well, then get tested!. Blood testing  for most thyroid conditions is straight forward and thus correction is possible and your skin can be back to looking well...as long as you continue your good skin care!

Hada Home Hand Cure

Hands are said to most often give way the effects of sun, chemical, nutritional and genetic aging. At Hada Cosmetic Medicine we recommend extending your health and skin consultations down past your neck, and extending it to your fingertips. Once we see what condition your hands are in you can begin incorporating some of the medical therapies into your regimen to reverse the damage. However, simple strategies can go a long way, with the use of a tailored, designed for you, regimen of effective products. Sunscreen, antioxidants and moisturizing agents help your hands a tremendous amount. Clients will often complain that the products are not well absorbed into rough damaged hands in the early going of the therapies. A simple fix for that is to use plastic wrap (for instance Saran Wrap) with tape after the application of the product, to the hand and wrist area, and leave it for 30 minutes helps absorption. You can do one at a time if you can’t spend enough time off your iPad. For those with actual medical conditions or patchy red areas due to allergic reactions, get evaluated by your medical provider as a short course with topical steroids may be indicated. About 3 weeks of consistent treatment with this home remedy, and your hands will have never looked better!

Bleaching Facial Hair Warnings

For many women with very fine unwanted hairs bleaching the hairs of the lip, the chin, the face or the upper neck is an effective and relatively inexpensive way of masking the presence of these hairs. The hairs treated with these products will both soften, so they lay flatter, and lighten. It takes a bit of skill with makeup not to make these hairs more noticeable, which is why cosmetically it may be a better result to select a technique like hair reduction instead. The products for beaching hair that are available are most all available over the counter without a prescription. Virtually all the products contain both hydrogen peroxide and sulfates. Irritation and skin coloration changes are the most common side effect. If used long enough and the irritation becomes chronic itching is also a common side effect of bleaching.  There may be a variety of chemicals used for the bleaching process, but we caution our patients regarding the sulfate components. If you are allergic to sulfa drugs you could possibly be allergic to the sulfate in facial bleaching products. It is also possible to develop a sulfa allergy if you have been using these products long enough. Like with new makeup, new skin products, it is a good idea to just test in a small patch to make sure your skin is not sensitive to the bleach product. If you develop skin changes, consult your, cosmetic medicine provider, health care provider or dermatologist before continuing product use.

Restore that Beautiful Line of Your Lower Face and Chin

The lower face restoration techniques have expanded very quickly. Exactly what will best work for you has to be decided in consultation, but using fillers, Botox, Lasers ultrasound or radiofrequency treatments have very little down time and work extremely well. Sagging jaw line, jowls, acne scaring, and wrinkling all are nicely handled by these techniques. Getting proper exercise and nutrition and sleep is also important. Surgery is corrective for some problems, but your skin sagging can often be handled with little to no down time, which surgery cannot boast.