Children and Dental X-rays 2010/11/24

NYTimes Investigation Finds Dentists Still Using High Radiation-Emitting Devices.

On its front page, the New York Times (11/23, A1, Bogdanich, McGinty) reports that three years ago, doctors “mounted a national campaign to protect” children and adolescents from harmful doses of radiation. Since then, “many clinics and hospitals” have reduced “diagnostic radiation to only those levels seen as absolutely necessary,” but “most dentists continue to use outmoded X-ray film requiring higher amounts of radiation,” while “orthodontists and other specialists” have embraced a “new scanning device that emits significantly more radiation than conventional methods, an examination by the New York Times has found.” The cone-beam CT scanner’s “popularity has been fueled in part by misinformation about its safety and efficacy, some of it coming from dentists paid or sponsored by manufacturers to give speeches, seminars, and continuing education classes, as well as by industry-sponsored magazines and conferences.”

Awesome Daily Deal! 2010/11/23

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Severe Acne Associated With Suicide Risk. 2010/11/16

Severe Acne Associated With Suicide Risk. The UK’s Guardian (11/12, Boseley) reports that, according to a study published Nov. 11 in the British Medical Journal, “young people with severe acne should be carefully monitored as the condition can make them suicidal, and in some cases, that may be worsened by their” medications, in particular by isotretinoin (Accutane). “Researchers at Sweden’s Karolinska Institute found the risk of suicide rose in the year before the patient was given the” medicine however, which they suggested is “clear evidence…that severe acne itself is a risk for suicide.”         The UK’s Press Association (11/12) reports that in the study of 5,700 people, 128 of which were hospitalized after attempting to commit suicide, investigators found that “in the six months after treatment with the drug, the risk of suicide was higher than that before treatment.” Notably, “38% of 32 patients who made their first suicide attempt before treatment made a new attempt or committed suicide thereafter,” and “71% of the 14 who made their first suicide attempt within six months after treatment stopped made a new attempt or committed suicide.”         However, according to the UK’s Telegraph (11/12, Adams), “within three years of treatment ending the attempted suicide rate among patients had dropped to the average population level,” the investigators “noted, suggesting the drug could actually save lives overall.”         The author of an accompanying editorial pointed out that “acne so severe that it is treated with Accutane is not a trivial disease,” HealthDay (11/11, Reinberg) reported. In fact, “it is a disease associated with significant psychiatric morbidity,’” the editorialist noted. While he said it was not possible to determine whether isotretinoin or severe acne was responsible for the increase in attempted suicide, he agreed with the study authors that “physicians must monitor patients taking Accutane for evidence of psychiatric problems.” Reuters (11/12, Kelland) also covers the story.

www.alpineskin.com

Prolonged Exposure To Nickel In Cell Phones May Lead To Itchy Rash. 2010/11/16

Prolonged Exposure To Nickel In Cell Phones May Lead To Itchy Rash. HealthDay (11/14, Van Tine) reported, “If you’re an incessant cell phone user and a mysterious rash appears along your jaw, cheek or ear, chances are you’re allergic to nickel, a metal commonly used in cell phones,” according to research presented at an allergy meeting. “Symptoms of cell phone allergy include a red, bumpy, itchy rash in areas where the nickel-containing parts of a cell phone touch the face.” The allergy “can even affect fingertips of those who text continuously on buttons containing nickel. In severe cases, blisters and itchy sores can develop.” www.alpineskin.com

Broadband Light (BBL) photorejuvenation at Alpine Dermatology 2010/11/16

This procedure reduces pigmented lesions in the skin through a process known as selective thermophotolysis. Essentially, dark areas in the skin absorb light more intensely than lighter areas. The dark areas then heat with the absorption of light areas, destroying the pigment-carrying cells. Through this form of natural selection, i.e. survival of the lightest, the dark regions of the skin are destroyed while the light ones are relatively unaffected. This allows the treatment of:

• Freckles (aka solar lentigines)
• Rosacea
• Age spots
• Brown spots, birth marks
• Port wine stains
• Hyperpigmentation
• Poikiloderma

In addition, BBL treatment can also reduce the appearance of spider veins, also through the process of selective photothermolysis. It can be used to treat:

• Spider veins
• Broken capillaries
• Facial veins
• General redness
• Telanglectasia

Last, but not least, BBL can also have a significant impact on scars, stretch marks, and fine wrinkles, and the texture of your skin.

In general, thanks to Sciton laser technology, patients do not feel any discomfort from, nor need any downtime after, BBL photorejuvenation.  We are offering many discount and package options this winter, call our office for your free consultation today! 801-763-7107

www.alpineskin.com

Your Alpine Dermatologist

Are you ready to run? 2010/11/11

Fall is marathon season! Whether you’re running in New York City (November 7), Death Valley (December 4), or Honolulu (December 12), you share certain habits: You support your feet with well-fitting sneakers. You keep hydrated. Maybe you wear knee braces or wrap your ankles. But do you protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation? You should, because exposure to UV radiation increases your risk of skin cancers, eye diseases, and some immune-related disorders.

Participants in outdoor sports face a higher risk of nonmelanoma skin cancers, like basal and squamous cell carcinoma, the two most common skin cancers. Outdoor endurance athletes — like marathoners — also show more signs of risk factors for melanoma, such as numerous small moles or any large, atypical moles. Outdoor endurance athletes’ higher risk of melanoma may be related to the sun damage they sustain from excessive UV exposure. Additionally, marathoners tend to have depressed immune systems, due to the amount of UV exposure they receive and the extremely intensive training they engage in. According to a study in Sports Medicine, UV-induced immune system suppression may promote the development of skin cancers. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer, and will cause an estimated 8,650 deaths this year in the US alone.

But it is possible to protect your skin while you’re running. Here’s how:

Problem: You train outdoors, and that means many hours of exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Sun-Safe Solution: Since the sun is strongest between 10 AM and 4 PM, train in the early morning, late afternoon, or evening. This way, you’ll reduce your exposure levels while maintaining your mileage. Plus, the generally lower temperatures around dawn and dusk will make exercise more comfortable.

Problem: The tank tops and shorts you train in leave a lot of skin exposed.

Sun-safe Solution: “Protective clothing is the most important first step,” says dermatologist Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, who has completed the New York City Marathon three times. Specially formulated, breathable fabrics (such as microfibers) wick away sweat, so that you can stay cool, even when wearing clothes that offer more protection, such as long sleeves, leggings, or pants. Wear dark or bright colors, since they absorb more UV than do whites or pastels.

You may want to look for athletic gear with an ultraviolet protection (UPF) label; this indicates how much of the sun’s UV radiation will be absorbed by the fabric. For instance, a shirt with a UPF of 30 will allow just 1/30^th of the sun’s UV radiation to reach your skin. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends clothes with a UPF of 30+. Laundry additives can also wash UV protection into your clothes for up to 20 washes.

Hats — one with a 3”-brim is best — and sunglasses (look for a pair that blocks 99-100 percent of the sun’s UV rays) are just as important, and we have tips on choosing the right ones.

Problem: You apply sunscreen, but you seem to sweat it off almost immediately.

Sun-safe Solution: Look for water- and sweat-resistant lotions, gels, sticks, or spray-on sunscreens, versions of which should be available at your local drugstore. Sunscreens with “sport” or “active” in the name are usually designed not to rub off or to sting if they get into your eyes. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15; runners may want to up the SPF to 30+. The sun emits two kinds of UV: UVA (long-wave), and UVB (shortwave) rays. SPF numbers indicate protection against UVB, but since UVA can reach the skin, too, “It’s important to pick a sunscreen that offers both UVA and UVB protection,” says Hale. So choose a sunscreen with some combination of these UVA-blocking ingredients: avobenzone, ecamsule, oxybenzone, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide.

For long-wearing sun protection, mineral or inorganic sunscreen ingredients like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide may be a good choice: “Zinc oxide tends to stay on better despite sweat or rubbing,” says dermatologist Amy Amonette Huber, MD, a long-time athlete. “I use zinc oxide on my face — SPF 60 — and then I use an SPF 30 or 50 spray formula on other exposed areas. It’s convenient and less messy to put on.”

It’s important to apply a full ounce (two tablespoons) of sunscreen to the body, including a nickel-sized dollop to the face. And be sure to apply your sunscreen 30 minutes prior to heading outside, not just before you start running. That way, your skin will have time to absorb the sunscreen. It’s necessary to reapply sunscreen after two hours outdoors, or more frequently if you’re sweating heavily. Luckily, if you carry several lightweight, one-use, sunscreen wipes in your pocket, you can stay protected without breaking your stride.

So suit up, and stay sun-smart. If you follow these tips, you may experience some soreness after the event, but your pain will come from a race well-run, not a skin-damaging sunburn.

Read more at skincancer.org

Alpine Dermatology, your Utah county dermatologist!