Designer Bracelet Protects Against Sun-damaged Skin

Yes, it is 8 degrees outside right now. However, spring is right around the corner which means the sun is about to make its damaging debut. 

"The new June Bracelet, designed by Louis Vuitton and Harry Winston collaborator Camille Toupet, is a gem-like sensor that tracks sun exposure in real time. It syncs its findings to an app on your smartphone and gives advice about how much sunscreen to apply and whether it might be time to cover up with a hat and shades."

The June Bracelet is not available for another five months but it promises the utmost protection against the sun's harmful UV rays which causes premature skin aging and skin damage.

To learn more about the June Bracelet and healthy options to getting your Vitamin D intake, visit the article here. 

Love Your Glove (Hand)

Look at the images below. Do you see any difference in the two hands? These images are of an 83 year old female who is an avid golfer for more than sixty years. One hand looks 80 and the other... the gloved hand, looks 40. That is what sun damage does to your skin and how your glove can protect you.

One of a golfer’s greatest accessories in his game is his glove. It provides a more secure grip allowing for a smoother swing. In the end, a firm grip gives you better control over the direction of the ball. 

But, a golfer’s glove is not just an essential piece of equipment. Like many clothing options, the glove also serves as protection from sun damage and skin cancer. Clothes offer some SPF protection from ultraviolet rays, but it is critical that we also apply and reapply sunscreen during the summer months. As athletes, you enjoy the great outdoor weather but it is easy to forget to reapply your sunscreen. And with over one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, covering up will protect your skin and prevent aging your skin.

#mcleanderm #askdrlily #golf #sunprotection 

Melanoma Monday: May is Melanoma Awareness Month

Drivers are failing to use their sunscreen. Utilizing sun protection measures while driving is just as important as wearing your sunscreen at the beach.

Most patients feel it is unnecessary to apply sunscreen before driving in their car.  Compared to the 73% of the public who apply daily general sunscreen, only 48% of people apply their SPF before getting in the driver seat.

Poor compliance with the application of sun protection can result in the development of deadly skin cancers. Make sure to purchase your sunscreen before the summer sun sneaks through your windows.

Baby Contracts Melanoma While Still in the Womb

Read this article from ABC News about the risks of Melanoma.

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/arizona-baby-melanoma-mothers-womb-alive/story?id=18922718

Spring = Skin Check Season

Before the summer sun cooks your skin and you start to look like your leather handbag, come in for a comprehensive head-to-toe skin check and cancer screening.

At McLean Dermatology, we are committed to providing you with the best dermatologic care – that includes ensuring you and your skin are ready for this, and every, summer.

The rate of melanoma, which is the deadliest form of skin cancer, has increased in the U.S. at a rapid pace. Why, do you ask? Everybody knows you must live by the rule: apply and reapply!  Proper sun protection - sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, rash guards, and surf shorts – are all must-haves in the sun.

There are so many choices of sunscreens, which one do I buy?

-Look on the bottles for these words: water-resistant, broad-spectrum, SPF 30 or higher (Ex: Elta MD)

Do I still have to wear sunscreen even when it’s cloudy?

-Yes! The most harmful, UV rays, can pass through windows, clouds, rain, and cement.

If I wear foundation with SPF, is that enough?

-Although it helps, wearing just makeup with a built-in SPF is not strong enough. Make it a habit to put on sunscreen before your makeup.

Outsmart skin cancer with these helpful hints:

Avoid tanning beds

   -Even one tanning session increases your lifetime risk of developing melanoma by 20%!

Apply your SPF in the morning (and REAPPLY!)

   -If you’re out all day and not reapplying sunscreen every 40-80 minutes you’re putting yourself at risk.

Eat your fruits and veggies

   - Leafy greens and citrus fruits guard against UV damage

Perform self-tests

   - Any mole or spot you think might be harmful very well could be. Making an appointment with your dermatologist is the first step to healthy skin.

Do not smoke

   -Up there with tanning beds, smoking in a Class 1 carcinogen.

Nail Knowledge Part I

For those you who hate repainting your nails every week after the polish chips off, nail shellacs are the answer. The chip-resistant and fade-resistant nail polish lasts for fourteen days and keeps your nails looking chic and healthy.

The shellacs are pigmented polymers that are painted on and bonded to the nail by UV radiation. They are polymerized in three layers with each layer hardened by exposure to the UV light to secure the pigmented polymers of the polish onto the nail. However, there are significant concerns about the safety of UV radiation. The blue/ purple color in the UV lamps at the salon has a wavelength in the visible and UV range that is poorly filtered by the eye and can reach the retina. Over time, this wavelength diminishes the lutein antioxidants stores in the eye, leading to macular degeneration, which impairs vision in the elderly.

Also, there is always a risk of skin cancer from any UV source. However, according to new studies, those concerns are unfounded. Researchers have found that there is a very low risk of squamous cell carcinoma with the UV radiation in the nail salon machines. Actually, only one person in tens of thousands will develop skin cancer because of nail salons’ UV radiation sources.

So if your nails are in need of a touch up, don’t hesitate to use shellacs, but here are some tips to keep you safe.

1. Ingest lutein vitamin supplements or eat more egg yolks, which are full of lutein, to prevent macular degeneration
2. Apply sunscreen to the back of hands to protect against the UV rays
3. ….even wear your sunglasses to the salon!