May is Skin Cancer Awareness month.  In partnership with the American Academy of Dermatology, Dr. Bilu Martin was happy to perform free skin cancer screenings at Premier Dermatology, MD.  But we believe that every month should be Skin Cancer Awareness month.  Protecting yourself from the harmful rays of the sun should be a daily goal.  Wearing sunscreen and reapplying every two hours, putting on sun protective clothing including hats, staying in the shade, and not tanning or burning are so important for your skin's health.  Be on the lookout for spots that don't heal, new spots, or old ones that change.  There are three main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma.  BCCs and SCCs are directly caused by sun exposure and generally, do not spread beyond the affected skin.  Melanoma is caused both by sun exposure as well as genetics.  If melanoma is caught early, it is curable.          

Do yourself a favor and have your skin examined by a dermatologist.  Encourage your friends and family to do the same.  And please, please, don't use tanning beds.  According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, indoor UV tanners are 74% more likely to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, than those who have never tanned indoors.  That's a big increase.  And believe it or not, there are still plenty of people out there using tanning beds, despite all the info about how dangerous they are.  Protect your and your loved one's skin - this month and every month. 

Sometimes skin care follows the "kiss" principle....

1. Soaking toenails in a mix of white vinegar and water can help improve nail fungus.

2. Duct tape can help warts disappear.

3. Crisco is a great skin moisturizer -especially for those with eczema.

4. Olive oil heals ragged cuticles.

5. Pressure stops bleeding.

6. Vaseline and a band aid heal wounds.

7. And the key to looking young? Sunscreen!

Oh- and laughing often, breathing, eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants, using a retinol cream (not if pregnant or nursing), drinking water, exercising, and not sweating the small stuff. And sunscreen!

We do.  And you should. 

But any foundation or concealer will do, right?  It doesn't matter, right?

Wrong. It DOES matter!

At Premier Dermatology, MD, we treat acne with a variety of prescription and office-based treatments - oral antibiotics, topical antibiotics, topical retinoids, topical anti-inflammatory creams, benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid washes, chemical peels, deep-cleaning facials with extractions, hormone-based treatments, and even isotretinoin (accutane).  Of nearly equal importance are the sunscreens, moisturizers, cleansers, and makeup that are used in conjunction with prescribed treatments.  We carry hand-selected skincare products specifically chosen to compliment regimens.  The wrong makeup can clog pores, increasing oil production and resulting more breakouts - the very opposite of what we are trying to treat. 

That's why we are so pleased to offer Dermablend makeup to our patients.  Their makeup is non-acnegenic, non-comedogenic, non-oily, and fragrance-free.  And they really cover redness, pigment (melasma), lack of pigment (vitiligo) and scarring.  The cover creme foundations also contain titanium dioxide SPF 30 sunscreen for extra protection.  When paired with the setting powder, the makeup can stay on for 16 hours.

The quick-fix concealers are amazing.  These potent little sticks are perfect for blending under-eye circles and bruising that can occur after filler injections.  Use them to cover-up blemishes, skin discoloration, and uneven skin tone.  Dermatologist tested and approved; be sure to ask us about Dermablend at your next visit at pdmd!

They say the eyes are the windows to the soul.  Sometimes the window treatments need a little refreshing...

Lines around the eyes
Crow's feet result from squinting and repeated muscle movement.  The most effective treatment for Crow's feet is botulinum toxin: Botox, or Dysport.  For finer textural lines, an amazing eye cream can help.  One of our favorites at pdmd is Clark's Botanicals Anti-puff Eye Cream.  It contains caffeine to tighten, vitamin K for dark spots, and hyaluronic acid to smooth.  Retinol is improves fine lines and is anti-aging, but should be used sparingly in this area to minimize irritation.  For lots of lines, treatments with a non-ablative fractional laser like the Palomar Icon Aesthetic Platform can be very effective.

Hollows and Loose skin
Your two year old is only partly to blame.  Hyaluronic acid fillers (Juvederm or Restylane) can be injected in the tear trough area to rejuvenate the contour under the eyes.  A small amount should be used, as this is a delicate area.  

Dark circles
These usually result from broken blood vessels under the eyes, genetics, and allergies.  If seasonal allergies are an issue, a daily antihistamine may be beneficial.  Broken blood vessels may be corrected with intense pulsed light treatments.

Sparse lashes
Yes, there is a miracle-gro for lashes, and it's called Latisse.  This FDA approved prescription medication can increase the volume and length of lashes in about 6-8 weeks.  It's available at pdmd.

Little tricks for poofs
Applying cold moisturizer helps to relieve puffiness under the eyes.  Sleeping on more than one pillow and avoiding foods high in salt help, too. 

Usually, a combination of treatments are needed to make your eyes sparkle and shine.

"I feel like something bit me on the lower back."  "I've got this burning, tingling rash."  "There are little blisters on my arm."

What do these people have in common?  All have herpes zoster, aka, shingles.  It's a more common condition than you may think: 1 in 3 people in the United States will develop shingles in their lifetime.  It can affect any sex or age group (including children), although it is more common after age 60. 

Despite its name, herpes zoster is not caused by the herpes virus.  It's caused by the varicella virus, which is the same virus that causes chickenpox.  Once an individual has been infected with the chickenpox virus, it remains inactive (dormant) in our nerves forever.  For reasons not entirely understood, the virus will activate, travel along the nerve, and erupt in the skin that connected to that specific nerve.  This is why shingles only shows up in a portion of the skin, and not everywhere, like chickenpox does. 

Although anyone can develop shingles, those with a weakened immune system due to cancer, pregnancy, illness, and certain immunosuppressive medications are at higher risk.  Shingles usually starts as a tingling or burning sensation in the skin.  A few days later, a red rash with grouped clear, small blisters will appear.  The rash may feel painful or itchy. 

Antiviral treatment is available from your physician, which helps to reduce the length of time and severity of the shingles.  They should be started early in the course to be most effective.  A dreaded complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia, which is persistent nerve pain in the area of shingles.  The antiviral treatment may help prevent this condition.  Shingles that involves the face, eyes, or ears requires emergent treatment to avoid complications.     

A vaccine, called Zostavax, is available for patients age 60 and older.  It may prevent the development of shingles.