DermHelpCentral

Sun Screen Safety

It seems like every day a patient will ask a recommendation for a sunscreen.  One realizes that one knows little about the safety of these products.  The thrust of sunscreen promotion is the iconic SPF:  Sun Protective Factor.  This has gone from 15 to 30 to 50 to 80 and now to 100!!  The reality is that a SPF of 15 or 30 is enough.  What should concern you more is the safety of these products.  GoodGuide is reputable organization whose goal is to "provide the world's largest and most reliable source of information on the health, environmental, and social impacts of the products in your home."  Their guide to Sunscreens is worth visiting.  Click here to read more. 

(Thanks to Charles Katz of Great Barrington, Massachusetts for directing us to GoodGuide.)

Confused by SPF? Take a Number

This is a helpful article from the NY Times (May 14, 2009) on sunscreens and Sun Protective Factor.  Sunscreen use is a religion to some.  There is no evidence that it prevents melanoma when used in adults; but it may prevent some nonmelanoma skin cancers and may help some "at-risk" individuals.  Sunscreens are a huge market for the PIGs (pharmaceutical industry giants) -- so be an informed consumer!  This article from the NY Times should make you feel better about sticking to a sunscreen with a lower SPF.

"A sunscreen’s SPF, or sun protection factor, measures how much the product shields the sun’s shorter-wave ultraviolet B rays, known as UVB radiation, which can cause sunburn. It used to be that SPF topped out at 30. No more. These days, a race is on among sunscreen makers to create the highest SPF that R&D can buy.  

"The difference in UVB protection between an SPF 100 and SPF 50 is marginal. Far from offering double the blockage, SPF 100 blocks 99 percent of UVB rays, while SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. (SPF 30, that old-timer, holds its own, deflecting 96.7 percent). Thus, SPF 30 is all one really needs to prevent burning.

"A sunscreen’s SPF number is calculated by comparing the time needed for a person to burn unprotected with how long it takes for that person to burn wearing sunscreen. So a person who turns red after 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure is theoretically protected 15 times longer if they adequately apply SPF 15. Because a lot of sunscreens rub off or don’t stay put, dermatologists advise reapplication every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

Here is the full article:  Confused by SPF.  

(Photos from the Times articles)

Girl on the Go Wigs

 

Girl On The Go provides a personal, comfortable, and private way to shop for a wig; one of the most difficult experiences a woman may have to go through.

"One of the most horrific experiences of cancer is losing your hair. While you are making difficult decisions about your treatment plan you may also be facing the reality of hair loss. For many, losing your hair symbolizes a loss of self, a loss of control and the visible confrontation of being ill. You are no longer in control of your appearance. Wearing a "bad" wig is a public statement that you are sick. But for most, cancer is a very private and personal experience.

Shopping for a wig is a difficult experience. From walking into the shop, to waiting for the attendant, it can feel as exposing as trying on a bathing suit in a public parking lot! Girl On the Go! has the solution."

Call us at 1-800-355-6976 to schedule your private home appointment.

Uneven PIgmentation

"Of all appearance-related issues that galvanize women, blotchy skin and so-called age spots are long-term troublemakers. According to a March 2009 report by Mintel, a market research firm, uneven pigmentation is a major concern for more than one-third of women in the United States, rapidly closing in on dry skin and wrinkles."  This is from a good article that appeared in the May 7, 2009 "Skin Deep" section of the New York Times.  All the basics that might interest a patient are in this article:  Uneven Pigmentation: What Can Be Done? 

Also see: The Skin-Type Solution by Leslie Bauman..

Tricks and Transplants for Women's Hair Loss

 This is a good article from the NY Times (April 30, 2009).  It covers female pattern alopecia, hair transplantation, Rogaine, Propecia, cosmetics.