WestDerm

30 Minutes Could Give You 30 More Years of Life

Your skin is an amazing organ. In addition to being beautiful, your skin performs a series of vital functions. It regulates your body temperature, protects you from potentially harmful pathogens, detects environmental changes like intense heat or cold, and prevents water loss. It can also grow thick and luxurious hair!

However, sometimes the first signs of serious illness appear on the skin.

The most common form of cancer in the United States is skin cancer. While the overwhelming majority of cases are nonmelanoma skin cancers that aren’t typically life-threatening, a significant portion can become very serious.

Early detection is the best tool for assuring good outcomes. Additionally, if abnormalities are detected quickly, you are less likely to require invasive, lengthy rounds of treatment.

A routine 30-minute skin check at Skin and Cancer Associates and The Center for Cosmetic Enhancement could alert you to potentially significant skin changes, from easily treatable skin disorders to more serious conditions like cancer.

If you have been putting off a skin exam, here are a few facts about skin cancer that highlight the importance of routine screenings.

Skin Cancer Facts

According to a study published in 2010, approximately one-fifth of all Americans will have some type of skin cancer by the age of 70.

There are three common forms of skin cancer:

Basal cell carcinoma. This is the slowest-spreading form of skin cancer. It originates in the basal cells in the outer skin layer. If caught early, it can effectively be cured after one round of treatment. Basal cell carcinoma has a very low recurrence rate.
Squamous cell carcinoma. This form of skin cancer originates within the squamous cells located in the outer and middle skin layers. While it can be aggressive and destroy surrounding tissues, it is not typically fatal.
Malignant melanoma. Melanoma is a type of cancer that grows within the melanocyte cells that generate skin pigment. It is an extremely fast-spreading form of cancer that develops largely within existing moles. It is also the deadliest if left unaddressed.

Malignant melanoma at its earliest stage is called melanoma in situ, or stage 0 noninvasive melanoma. This stage means the tumor is localized and exists only at the epidermis (the very top skin layer)

Stage I melanoma is still localized but has become invasive and has spread below the top layer of skin. At stages 0 and I, skin cancer has a survival rate of more than 98 percent.

Once the cancer cells move beyond the localized stage more than 2 centimeters from the original tumor, it is called in-transit melanoma, or stage II melanoma. In-transit melanoma has a survival rate of approximately 62 percent.

If the cancer progresses, it can spread to surrounding tissues and possibly the lymphatic system. When it spreads to the lymph nodes, the cancer cells can be carried to the organs and throughout the body. When cancer reaches the lymph nodes, it is considered stage III melanoma. Sadly, the 5-year survival rate drops considerably at stage III, particularly if it has spread to distant organs.

Approximately 1% of all cases of skin cancer are invasive melanoma. Malignant melanoma can go from noninvasive to invasive in a manner of weeks.

While a skin cancer diagnosis is scary, discovering an abnormality quickly could add decades to your life and preserve the health and appearance of your skin. In addition to having regular skin checks by a dermatologist, a routine home skin check will alert you to any potential concerns.

How You Can Protect Yourself

You’ve probably heard (or used) the expression: “I know that like I know the back of my hand.” But how well do you really know the back of your hand? Or the backs of your knees, for that matter?

We might think that we are familiar with our own skin, but subtle changes are easy to miss. Also, a change that might seem unimportant – something we misidentify as a bruise or insect bite – could be something more sinister.

A 30-minute full-body skin check is a crucial early skin cancer detection solution. Here are some tips for performing a basic skin check at home. In addition to doing self-checks, scheduling an examination at Skin and Cancer Associates and The Center for Cosmetic Enhancement will alert you to changes that could save your life.

Skin and Cancer Associates and The Center for Cosmetic Enhancement offers expertise, experience, and technological innovations that deliver extremely accurate assessments and exceptional outcomes. We are dedicated to providing compassionate care tailored to our patients’ unique needs.

Love Your Skin!

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month; isn’t it a good time to take control of the health of your skin? You can keep your skin strong, supple, and healthy with the right care. Schedule an appointment at with us today.

Face Yoga 101: Anti-Aging Exercises for Your Skin

What is Facial Yoga, you ask? It’s an exercise routine to tighten and tone the face. Surprisingly, we have more than 40 muscles above the neck that can be strengthened and enlarged, just like muscles in other parts of our body. Face yoga is a big trend among celebrities who say it sculpts their face and makes them look younger.

What does it do?

Fat pads on top of our face muscles give us that cheeky, attractive, youthful fullness. But when the fat thins as we age, our skin sags and loosens. We can compensate for this loss with face yoga to bulk up and tighten the muscle under the fat pad.

A Northwestern University study took a group of middle-aged women and taught them 30 face yoga exercises. They committed to the exercises for 20 weeks. At the end of the study, dermatologists looked at their “before” and “after” pictures and said they looked about three years younger.

Why is it Beneficial for Your Skin?

Face yoga increases blood flow, and as you know, oxygenated skin is healthy skin. Celebrity practitioners rave about face yoga’s ability to boost collagen and increase lymphatic drainage, all while making them look more sculpted.

Become a Face Yogi

It takes about half an hour of exercise every other day to reap the benefits of face yoga that the women in the study experienced. The full routine is made up of 30 exercises. Here’s a sampling of three of the exercises that you can practice on your own (or with a friend). You’ll make each other laugh. Trust us.

Exercise #1: “The Cheek Lifter” – for sagging cheeks

Make an “O” with your mouth and fold your upper lip over your teeth. Now put an index finger on the top of each cheek. Lift the corners of your mouth into a smile, and your fingers will go up. Relax your mouth back into an “O” shape, and your fingers will go down. Repeat this ten times.

Cosmetic alternative: Dermal filler

Exercise #2: “Happy Cheeks Sculpting” – to improve cheek shape

Smile with your lips pressed together so your teeth won’t show. Place an index finger at each corner of your mouth. Slowly press the fingers up your face, over your cheekbones, and then out towards the corners of your eyes. Hold this for 20 seconds, and do it three times.

Cosmetic alternative: Voluma XC dermal filler

Exercise #3: “Eyebrow Lifter” – to lift brows

Place three fingertips from each hand under your eyebrow and force your eyes wide open. Smile while you pull your eyebrows down against your fingers. Close your lids and roll your eyeballs up. Hold for 20 seconds, repeat three times.

Cosmetic alternative: Botox

Initial studies show face yoga builds cheek muscles and adds youthful volume to the face of middle-aged women. It takes several work-outs each week for about five months to reap the full benefits. But face yoga practitioners, including many celebrities, swear by the results. We had fun with the exercises, and the massage part felt so good. But it left us wonderingÃƒ¢Ã¢â€š¬¦

What else can I do for my face?

Sometimes we want to instantly improve our looks, either because we need a self-confidence boost or because we have an important event coming up and want to look our best quickly. We get that, and we’re here to offer a variety of treatment options to rejuvenate your appearance. If you’d like to book an appointment, one of our board-certified dermatologists would be happy to see you.

Spring Clean Your Skincare Routine: Fresh Start Tips

As spring rains clean nature, let’s do the same for any tools and pillowcases that touch our face. They’ve built up quite a layer of gunk over the winter, so now is the time to get them sparkling clean again. And while we’re at it, let’s replace our old products, too. Fresh tools and products will help us spring into the new season knowing we’re ready to face anything that comes up.

Wash Your Tools

Bacteria, yeast, and fungus can build up on brushes and sponges, not to mention the rainbow of caked-on colors and oils. Spring is the perfect time to clean your makeup tools. Use warm water and a brush cleanser or gentle soap to wash them.

Change Your Pillowcase

It’s time to wash your pillowcase if it’s been a week since you last did so. Here’s why: a dirty pillowcase can lead to a breakout especially if you have sensitive skin or are acne-prone.

Toss Synthetic Face Coverings

Throw away any face coverings you have that are made from synthetics like rayon, nylon, and polyester. These fabrics can cause skin irritation and breakouts. Replace them instead with a breathable, natural fiber like cotton.

Edit Your Makeup

Spring is the perfect time to edit your makeup collection. Toss cracked or old makeup, like powder compacts or mascara that’s more than a few months old. Throw away anything that’s worn-out, dirty, or expired. Also, get rid of products you don’t use because they don’t look good on your skin tone. You’ll be left with an edited makeup collection that makes it easy to find what you’re looking for. Just remember also to clean up your makeup bags.

Freshen Your Makeup Bags

Now’s the time to freshen your makeup bags and containers. If you’re cleaning up what’s inside them, it only makes sense to clean them too. Most makeup bags can be turned inside out and thrown into the washing machine. If yours is delicate, hand wash it with a gentle cleanser. If your makeup bag is beyond cleaning, chuck it and buy a fresh one.

Replace Old Sunscreens

Head into the spring season with a full-potency sunscreen that’s ready to do its job to protect your skin from UV rays. Did you know last years’ sunscreen may be too weak to protect your skin? That’s because it expires after the “use by” date that’s printed on the container. So, check your bottles of sunscreen and refresh them if you need to. We recommend EltaMD UV Active Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ if you need sunscreen.

Schedule a Skin Check

The start of a new season calls for a shift in gears and while swapping out heavy winter face creams for lightweight formulas is advised, it’s sometimes so much more than that. That’s where we come in. Schedule a skin check with us today and we can help give you customized advice that is specific to you and your skin type. We are here to help refresh your skin for the seasons ahead.

Vitamin C: How It Benefits Your Skin & Health

If you’ve admired someone’s glowy skin lately, chances are they’re benefiting from the beautifying effects of vitamin C. You can have that glow, too! You just need to kick it up a notch with a great serum and good nutrition. Let’s do this together in honor of Vitamin C day this month.

You Need Vitamin C

You need vitamin C from a topical serum (and food) to protect your cells from free radicals. Your body produces these molecules when it’s exposed to damaging things like too much sun, smog, and stress. Free radicals wreak havoc on cells, they contribute to dull skin, wrinkles, and premature aging. Vitamin C’s antioxidant powers protect you from these free radicals.

How it Works

Vitamin C helps repair your skin by stimulating collagen production. This precious protein makes your skin supple and radiant. It also evens out your skin tone. So, if you have age spots or freckles, vitamin C keeps them from getting darker by blocking a key melanin-producing enzyme. It also blocks some of the sun’s harmful rays. Check out these helpful

Protect Your Skin with a Vitamin C Serum

This powerful vitamin is one of the most popular skincare ingredients because it’s an amazing (ANTI)oxidant. We all know that a freshly sliced apple will turn brown as it begins to interact with the air and oxidize. But did you know that the oxidizing process slows down if the apple is rubbed, and protected with, vitamin C serum? Imagine similar protection for your skin.

And don’t forget, not all vitamin C serums are created equal. There are plenty of duds on the market that just don’t work. That’s why it’s so important to use a high-quality serum to get the best results.

Think of it this way: Vitamin C is the diva of skincare ingredients. It demands perfection in lighting and temperature to work its magic. Vitamin C serums are easily damaged by air, light, and heat. They can lose their antioxidant properties even while they’re being made, so they’re challenging to formulate and manufacture.

Lucky for us, our shop carries Skinceuticals CE Ferulic antioxidant serum, which has published more studies than any other brand. Our dermatologists consider it the gold standard, and we highly recommend it.

We’re so passionate about vitamin C serum; it’s one of our top skincare tips for 2021.

Vitamin C for Health (and Hair)

Eating foods high in vitamin C stimulates collagen production, which benefits your entire body because it repairs tissues and helps burns and cuts heal. It also maintains bone and teeth health. Studies say it can reduce your chance of getting a chronic disease like cancer. Vitamin C consumption even helps your hair grow and prevents split ends.

Eat Your Veggies

Here’s a quiz for you. Which of the following vegetables contains vitamin C: cabbage, spinach, or potato? If you said all three, you’re right. It’s common knowledge that fruits are high in vitamin C. But fewer people realize that just as much vitamin C is found in most veggies. Try to get the recommended five servings of fruit and vegetables each day to “vitamin see” your best skin ever!

If you have any questions about the above information or want more personalized skincare advice, one of our board-certified dermatologists would be happy to see you for an appointment.

Keep Hair & Skin Healthy During Stressful Times

If you’re stressed, you’re in good company. These are challenging times for many. Phones ring, doors slam, inboxes fill, and the list goes on. Add in responsibilities at work and home, and you can see why so many of us need to slow down and practice self-care so we can keep our hair full and our complexions clear. April is National Stress Month, so now’s the perfect time to take stock of stress and the effect it has on our health, including our skin and hair.

Skin and Hair

Stress takes a toll on our skin and hair. It might sound surprising, but it’s true. Stress has been linked to skin conditions like acne, psoriasis, and thinning hair. We all want to look and feel our best, which often comes down to our hair and skin looking healthy. But how do we maintain our skin and hair health during stressful times?

How Stress Affects Your Hair

Stress can cause three different types of hair loss.

Too much stress forces your hair follicles into a resting phase where just washing or combing your hair can make it fall out.
Some people can start tugging on their hair to relieve stress. This can lead to thinning hair on the head and the brows and lashes too.
There’s a possibility that stress can cause your body’s immune system to attach your hair follicles, which makes your hair fall out.

Caring For Your Hair

If you’re under significant stress these days, it helps to use medical-grade haircare products to counter hair loss. These include hair-growth serum and nutritional supplements.

Hair Growth Serum

You can apply topical products directly to your scalp twice a day. They have ingredients that keep your hair-follicle life cycle growing with a blend of antioxidants and minerals.

Supplements for Hair Growth

Skin and Cancer Associates and The Center for Cosmetic Enhancement carries products that help support your hair growth from the inside out. These oral supplements come in capsules and include the following quality products from Nutrafol:

Skincare is Self-Care

Managing stress levels will keep breakouts at bay. So will regular skin care like cleansing and moisturizing. Take your self-care to the next level by having a long, relaxing skin care routine at the end of the day that helps you unwind. Need some tips? Check out our recent blog post about Transitioning Your Skincare to Spring.

Yoga to Relieve Stress

You can calm the storm inside by hitting the mat and trying yoga. There is a reason people have practiced it for thousands of years. It’s a proven relaxation technique that relieves mental and physical stress by boosting your mood and enhancing your sense of well-being. So, take it one asana at a time, and you’ll see how much it helps you nama-STAY calm.

Since April is National Stress Month, now’s the perfect time to assess your stress levels and the effect it has on your health, including your skin and hair. Remember, skin breakouts and hair loss don’t have to be an inevitable part of stress. Our board-certified dermatologists can help you keep the clearest skin and fullest head of hair possible. Reach out today to schedule an appointment and join the hundreds of other patients enjoying better skin and hair health.

Rosy Cheeks or Rosacea? How to Tell the Difference

We all blush and get flushed sometimes—it’s normal. But if the blush on your cheeks is frequent, you might have a skin condition called rosacea. But how do you tell the difference between a healthy blush and a skin condition? In honor of April being Rosacea Awareness Month, we’re breaking it down below:

What is Blushing

Blushing is getting red-faced from shame, shyness, or embarrassment. It results from an emotional reaction that makes your glands release adrenaline. This hormone affects your nervous system, and blood is brought closer to the surface of your skin and your capillaries widen. But blushing is temporary.

What is Rosacea?

Rosacea, on the other hand, is a permanent skin condition. With rosacea, the blood vessels show through the skin enough that your face frequently looks red. This redness can come and go, depending on exposure to triggers. Although it is an incurable skin condition, the good news is that treatment options to help you are abundant once you’re diagnosed.

Diagnosing Rosacea

The providers at West Derm are trained to diagnose rosacea by examining your facial skin. They’re primarily looking for enlarged blood vessels. If you’re diagnosed with rosacea, you can do several things to manage your condition.

Reduce Rosacea Triggers

Rosacea triggers include hot weather, hot food, intense exercise, and menopause.

Avoiding Irritants

People with rosacea have sensitive skin that can also redden from irritants in some products. Everyday things like skincare and haircare can contain irritants that cause rosacea flare-ups. It’s helpful to avoid any product that makes your rosacea worse than it was before you used it and also get personalized product recommendations from your dermatologist.

Keep a Rosacea Diary

A rosacea diary can help you keep track of things that trigger your flare-ups. This information can help you remember to avoid these triggers in the future. You can also benefit from keeping track of products that affect your skin and identifying the irritating ingredients so you can avoid them.

Extra Sun Protection

People with rosacea need extra protection from the sun’s harsh UV rays, so remember to wear dermatologist recommended sunscreen daily.

Treatments for Rosacea

If your provider decides that you need rosacea treatment, there are many options, from prescription creams and gels to antibiotic pills and light and laser therapy.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to manage rosacea like avoiding triggers, reducing irritants, keeping a rosacea diary, and ensuring extra sun protection. There are also many dermatological treatment options that your provider can help you with.

West Derm practices provides Healthy Skin for LifeTM and our providers are rosacea experts. Contact us to schedule an appointment, and a knowledgeable provider will assess you for rosacea and, if you have it, can recommend treatment options.

Find Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type & Cancer Risk

Is it just us, or does Fitz-patrick sound like St. Patrick? We think it does! And so in honor of St. Patrick’s Day this month let’s take a test to find out your unique Fitzpatrick skin type. It’s fun to find out where you fall on the scale. Plus, it’ll give you some important info that could save your skin.

What is the Fitzpatrick Scale

The Fitzpatrick scale is a tool for dermatologists to assess your risk of skin cancer. It rates two things: the amount of pigment in your skin and how your skin reacts to the sun. It can indicate how likely you are to develop skin cancer.

Classify Your Skin

The Fitzpatrick Skin Scale is a scientific way of classifying skin types. It breaks them down into six categories starting light and moving up to the darkest tones of skin. Just knowing your skin type can give you the information you need to protect your skin and prevent skin cancer.

What’s Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type?

Ready to take the test to find out your skin type? Just choose the number that best describes you. Then add up your numbers and check your score at the end of the quiz.

What color are your eyes?

0 – Light blue, gray or green

1 – Blue, gray, or green

2 – Blue

3 – Dark Brown

4 – Brownish Black

What is the natural color of your hair?

0 – Sandy red

1 – Blonde

2 – Chestnut/ Dark Blonde

3 – Dark brown

4 – Black

What color is your skin in places where it is not exposed to the sun?

0 – Reddish

1 – Very Pale

2 – Pale with a beige tint

3 – Light brown

4 – Dark brown

Do you have freckles on unexposed areas?

0 – Many

1 – Several

2 – Few

3 – Incidental

4 – None

What happens when you stay too long in the sun?

0 – Painful redness, blistering, peeling

1 – Blistering followed by peeling

2 – Burns sometimes followed by peeling

3 – Rare burns

4 – Never had burns

To what degree do you turn brown?

0 – Hardly or not at all

1 – Light color tan

2 – Reasonable tan

3 – Tan very easily

4 – Turn dark brown quickly

Do you turn brown after several hours of sun exposure?

0 – Never

1 – Seldom

2 – Sometimes

3 – Often

4 – Always

How does your face react to the sun?

0 – Very sensitive

1 – Sensitive

2 – Normal

3 – Very resistant

4 – Never had a problem

When did you last expose your body to the sun?

1 – More than 3 months ago

2 – 2-3 months ago

3 – 12 months ago

4 – Less than a month ago

5 – Less than 2 weeks ago

Do you expose your face, or the area to be treated, to the sun?

1 – Never

2 – Hardly ever

3 – Sometimes

4 – Often

5 – Always

Quiz Score For Fitzpatrick Scale

0-7 = Type I

8-16 + Type II

17-25 = Type III

25-30 = Type IV

Over 30 = Type V-VI

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Characteristics

Type I – Your skin color is white, your hair is blonde, and your eyes are green. You Always burn in the sun and have freckles.
Type II – Your skin is white, your hair is blonde, and your eyes are green or blue. You Always burn, have freckles, and it is difficult for you to tan.
Type III – Your skin is white, your hair is blonde or brown. Your eyes are blue or brown. You tan after you burn. You may freckle.
Type IV – Your skin, hair, and eyes are brown. You tan more than average and rarely burn. Freckles are rare.
Type V – Your skin is dark brown, your hair is brown or black, and your eyes are brown. You can burn very rarely and tan readily. You don’t have freckles.
Type VI – Your skin and hair are black. Your eyes are brown or black. You tan and never burn. You are deeply pigmented and don’t have freckles.

Does Everyone Need Sunscreen?

Yes, you need sun protection regardless of your Fitzpatrick skin type. Wear sunscreen with a high SPF if your skin is on the light side. You can get away with sunscreen with a lower SPF if your skin is on the darker side.

Book an Annual Exam

If your skin is on the light side (especially if you have red hair or freckles) you should see a dermatologist for an annual skin check starting at about age 30. If your skin is tan to dark, see a dermatologist for a yearly exam starting at about age 40.

Ready to join the dozens of patients who know their skin type and use it to take care of their skin? Or, are you still not quite sure which category your skin fits int? Book your appointment and your dermatologist will help you figure out the answer.

Kiss Lip Damage Goodbye: Treatment & Prevention

February is the month to kiss lip damage goodbye and pucker up for your Valentine. There are a few things you can do right now to prepare your lips for that perfect smooch. And we’ve included some tips you’ll want to keep in mind for a healthy pout all year round.

A Pretty Pout

Kissable lips come down to hydration, and that’s hard to come by during the dry months of winter. There’s less moisture in the air now than during the summer months. Compensate for dryness by restoring your moisture balance—from the inside out.

Lip Tips

Drink lots of hydrating fluids every day, especially water. Also, foods high in water content like fruits and veggies are helpful. In addition, use a humidifier to add as much moisture as possible back into the air around you.

Don’t lick your lips because saliva is acidic and dries your lips.
Gently exfoliate your lips once or twice a week with a lip scrub.

Chapstick and Lip Balm

Unlike the rest of your skin, your lips do not have oil glands so, it is up to you to keep them moisturized. Your lips suffer when their moisture barrier (the outer layer of skin) is compromised, which causes them to crack, and chap. Avoid this by wearing a moisturizing balm daily during the winter.

Ingredients to Look For

There are some great chapstick and balm options online and over the counter. Avoid drying ingredients like fragrance, salicylic acid, menthol, and camphor. You’ll want to look for hydrating and protecting ingredients like:

Cocoa butter
Shea butter
Jojoba
SPF

Let’s Talk SPF

Did you know that the risk of sunburn on your lips is higher than the rest of your skin? That’s because it doesn’t have the same top layer of protection called the stratum corneum that the rest of your skin has. This makes your lips softer than the surrounding skin (on the plus side). But it also makes them more susceptible to sun damage. That’s why you need to wear lip balms and chapsticks with SPF.

If You Need Lip Repair

What should you do if your lips are damaged? We recommend SkinCeuticals Antioxidant Lip Repair restorative treatment if you need lip repair help. It’s perfect for injured or aging lips because it helps attract and retain water. This product rejuvenates, reshapes, and replenishes your lip tissue.

When to See a Doctor

Sometimes, the worst happens despite our best efforts to care for our lips. Anyone can develop lip cancer. You’re especially at risk if you have had a lifetime of long, ongoing sun exposure.

Know The Warning Signs of Lip Cancer

Lip cancer comes with warning signs that include pain, swelling, and rough patches that are red or white. In addition, the following are warning signs of lip cancer:

A bump on the lip
Numbness or tingling
Lips that bleed easily
Sores that don’t heal
Chronically chapped lips that bleed

Lips Ready For Valentine’s Day And Beyond Ãƒ°Ã…¸’Ã¢â‚¬¹

This is the month to pucker up and kiss lip damage goodbye. There are things you can do right now to prepare for that perfect Valentine’s Day kiss, like getting lots of hydration and running a humidifier. Also, balms and chapsticks are a great way to add softness to your lips. Remember to choose those with SPF so your delicate lip skin will be protected from sun damage. We are giving away FREE Skin and Cancer Associates and The Center for Cosmetic Enhancement chapstick all month long (while supplies last and at participating locations). Come see us for a visit!

10 Skin Cancer Myths Debunked for Prevention Month

Let’s celebrate National Cancer Prevention Month by revealing the truth behind some common skin cancer and sun damage myths. You’ve probably heard plenty of these untruths, and we’re here to set the record straight. Ready? Let’s dive right in.

MYTH 1: You don’t need to wear sunscreen if your foundation has SPF.

The truth is that you still need to wear sunscreen under your SPF foundation. That’s because you need an amount of sunscreen the size of a quarter to fully protect your face. And you don’t generally wear this much foundation. You would have to wear your foundation very thick to get the full SPF benefit promised on the bottle. So, apply sunscreen before your foundation (and remember your eyelids, ears, neck, and chest area too.) The SPF in your foundation could be helpful, but don’t count on it for full protection.

MYTH 2: Tanning beds are safer than the sun.

There is no such thing as a safe tan from a tanning bed or the sun. The only safe tan comes in a bottle. Self-tanning lotions are the way to go if you enjoy a bronzed look.

MYTH 3: Chemical sunscreen is harmful.

Our dermatologists say chemical sunscreen is not bad for your skin. It’s considered effective and a lot safer than no sunscreen. You can always choose a physical (mineral) sunscreen instead if you have any reservations about using a chemical one.

MYTH 4: UVA and UVB rays do the same thing to your skin.

These two types of rays damage your skin differently. While UVA (Ages) your skin, UVB (Burns) it. That’s why you need broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you from both types of rays.

MYTH 5: The windows in your house block all the sun’s damaging rays.

Your house’s windows block UVB rays. So, it’s not likely you’ll get a sunburn while sitting under direct sunlight in your house. But your skin is still exposed to UVA rays, which age it. Regular glass in homes does not filter out UVA rays. Wear sunscreen on your face and body every day, even if you plan to stay inside.

MYTH 6: Skin cancer is something you only get when you’re old.

Melasma affects plenty of young people in their mid to late twenties. It’s the most common form of cancer in young adults in this age group. So, pay attention to moles and see your doctor for a skin check if they change.

MYTH 7: Only light-skinned people get skin cancer.

Everyone is susceptible to skin cancer. Even people with the darkest skin tones are at risk. You need to wear sunscreen daily and protect yourself regardless of your skin color.

MYTH 8: Skin cancer is rare.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the world. It affects one in five people. That’s right, 20 percent of people will get some form of skin cancer during their lifetime. It helps to know your risk is real so you can take prevention seriously.

MYTH 9: You don’t need to wear sunscreen in the winter.

The sun continues to cause DNA damage, cancer, and premature aging year-round, even in the winter. Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean the sun stops shining. It’s with us. Every. Single. Day. And so are its damaging rays. Slather on a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen regardless of the season.

MYTH 10: Clouds block all the harmful rays from the sun.

Clouds reduce some of the sun’s UV rays, but not nearly enough to protect your skin from cancer. That’s why the Skin Cancer Foundation recommends you wear sunscreen on cloudy days. Remember, the only time you’re entirely protected is at night when the sun is down.

You’ve just read the truth about skin cancer and sun damage myths and now you’re better prepared to protect yourself. What a great way to celebrate National Cancer Prevention Month! The only bigger step you can take is to join hundreds of our patients who have booked their annual skin checkup.

The Do’s & Don’ts of Getting Botox Treatment

Fact: Botox is one of the safest treatments you can get, and a few units can work wonders if you feel like your complexion is in need of a refresh. While the entire process can be done in a matter of minutes, there are a few key things you should and shouldn’t do in the days before and after your appointment.

DO Your Research

Make sure to research your doctor before booking your appointment, and only go to a professional practitioner. While a lot of doctors can theoretically administer the treatment, going to one who is trained in the technique will ensure optimal results and reduce the risk of any complications. At Skin and Cancer Associates and The Center for Cosmetic Enhancement, we pride ourselves in having some of the best board-certified dermatologists in the country so that you get the best results possible.

DO Move the Injected Areas

In the hour following your treatment, try to move the treated area by making pronounced facial expressions. Frown, smile, raise your brows, and make faces to your heart’s content. This allows the Botox to better reach the muscles it needs to target.

DO Schedule a Follow-Up Appointment

Touch base with your doctor about two weeks post-procedure to make sure everything is settling correctly. Because Botox takes about 14 days to take full effect, a follow-up appointment will allow your doctor to determine if more units are needed for a specific area.

DON’T Apply Pressure to the Area

As tempting as it can be to massage the treated area, avoid applying pressure in the hours after your appointment to prevent having the Botox migrate.

DON’T Work Out for 24 Hours

Physical activity and extreme heat can increase the chances of bruising or swelling, so make sure to reschedule those workout classes for the day or so following your appointment.

Follow the above tips, and your radiant complexion will be on full display in no time. If you want more personalized advice, we’re here for you! Feel free to reach out to our board-certified medical professionals today to schedule your consultation and appointment.

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