Posts Tagged ‘tanning’

An Even Tan Only Comes Without the Sun! Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

To help answer the question of why different types of skin cancer tend to occur in different parts of the body given they all are caused by UV exposure, researchers at the University of Edinburgh recently conducted a “tanning” study published in the Journal of Experimental Dermatology.

The study exposed the backs and buttocks of 100 volunteers to six doses of UVB rays. A week later their skin was analyzed, revealing that the buttock area remained lighter in color and was much more resistant to tanning than the back area, despite the same level of UVB exposure. In the UK’s Telegraph, Professor Jonathan Rees (Unviersity of Edinburgh) reported the reason being that the skin on bottoms is thicker than other areas of the body. Part of the defense mechanism of a tan is to thicken the skin in a given area to protect its lower layers from UV damage. Areas where the skin is already thick, like our bottoms, is less likely to tan as a defensive response to UV exposure.

What is the take home message? If you are seeking an even, all-over tan, then you are chasing an impossibility. The skin is not physically able to tan in this way and this study is simply more evidence to discourage tanning through UV exposure at all! The still safest and most effective way to get an even tan is through topical tanning products like lotions, tan towels and shower bars.

Still Tanning Despite the Risks? Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Sunday, July 18th, 2010

Excessive sun exposure and tanning bed use increases the risk of getting melanoma, basal cell cancer and other non-melanoma cancers. We have several patients who, despite having been treated for serious skin cancer, continue to tan. Why? Well, it turns out that they may suffer from a tanning addiction. They suffer uncomfortable physical and mental symptoms when they try to stop. Many repeat tanners exhibit addictive behaviors similar to those exhibited by people addicted to substances such as meth and alcohol. In a recent study (Arch Dermatol 2010 Apr;146:412) 70% of study participants who visited tanning parlors met criteria for addiction to indoor tanning. Study participants who met criteria for addiction also had greater anxiety and greater alcohol and marijuana use. Tanning addiction seems to involve the same drives as other forms of substance related disorders. Of course , it is important to distinguish addicted from non-addicted tanners. It is hoped that lessons learned from treating other addictions can be translated into concrete interventions to reduce risky tanning behavior.

Tanning - A New Addiction: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Tuesday, June 1st, 2010

There is no question that exposure to high levels of ultraviolet rays cause skin cancer, not to mention premature aging and pigmentation issues of the skin. Despite this fact, however, tanning salons and outdoor sun tanning still remain popular, especially among young adults. So what keeps people returning to those booths and baking on their beach towels when they know the indisputable risks?

Well, Mosher and Danoff-Burg propose that habitual indoor tanning may, in some cases, be best characterized as an addiction with behavioral and physiologic dependency. Roughly one third of the college students who took screening tests (one that is commonly used to screen for alcoholism and a tanning-specific substance related disorder test) met criteria for addiction to ultraviolet tanning. This subgroup also showed a greater tendency for substance abuse and anxiety, suggesting that habitual tanning may be a predictor of other addictive behaviors, such as alcoholism and cigarette smoking.

Looking at tanning with this mindset and identifying patients who show signs of addiction toward tanning will hopefully give the medical community a new way to approach this topic with their patients and help them avoid this risky behavior before they encounter potentially life threatening conditions like melanoma.

If it is simply the “tan look” that people seek, tanning alternatives continue to improve and are a great way to get a glow without any risk. Our staff and patients are currently loving the products by TanTowel. The self-tanning towelettes are easy to use, with a simple swipe on action. Streaks and discolorations are easily avoidable with the towelette. They also have a great self-tanning soap that is used conveniently in the shower to supplement your towelettes or to achieve a more gradual glow. The towelettes and soap along with their self-tanning lotion give the most natural looking color that I have found among sunless tanning products. Check with our office today for more information on the Tan Towel products and to give yourself a summer glow without the harmful UV rays!

“Jersey Shore” Tanning Intervention: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Having two teenagers, you learn to stay up on what today’s youth is watching, listening to and surfing for, especially if it can impact them negatively. A recent trend among the younger set is watching the MTV reality show “Jersey Shore.” While I can’t say I’ve actually watched this show myself, I’ll admit to being familiar with images of the cast that I’ve seen on magazines and television excerpts, mostly because of the shock and concern I feel for them and their overly tanned skin. When I learned of the “tanning intervention” that the TV show “Extra” had with the cast, I was delighted. These young adults are not only ruining their skin and dramatically increasing their chances of skin cancer with their tanning habits, but they can potentially influence viewers into thinking tanning is “cool” - a dangerous trend. Check out this clip from Extra and share it with someone who needs to know about the dangers of tanning!

Confused about Vitamin D? Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Wednesday, August 5th, 2009

There is so much information circulating now on vitamin D, its benefits to your health and how one should go about obtaining it, that its no wonder people are confused.

Let’s start with why is vitamin D important to our health. We have long known that vitamin D allows our bodies to absorb and use calcium, which is essential for healthy bones. However, there are some recent studies that suggest it may also play a role in preventing certain cancers and diseases. This information, combined with the fact that vitamin D levels appear lower among Americans today than 15 to 20 years ago (American Journal of Clinical Nutrition), have sparked the conversation on whether or not we are getting enough vitamin D for optimal health.

Some of the confusion is caused by the fact that vitamin D is produced by the skin following exposure to the sun’s UV rays (specifically UVB rays), yet we are consistently told to avoid the sun, tanning beds and to glob on sunscreen daily.

So, what is wrong with tanning or tanning beds to get our vitamin D? As a dermatologist, I continue to recommend that my patients minimize their sun exposure, avoid tanning beds and always wear their sunscreen. The potential risk for skin cancers and photo damage is too great to obtain your vitamin D through tanning.

Another argument against sun exposure for vitamin D is that the amount produced by the skin varies depending on time of day, season, latitude, age and skin pigmentation. For example, UV exposure is unlikely to produce enough vitamin D in darker skin, so relying on the sun alone puts these skin types especially at risk for deficiency. Also, the skin of the elderly has a reduced ability to produce vitamin D from sunlight. Between November and February, UVB radiation is insufficient to produce adequate vitamin D for people living above 42 degrees north latitude, which includes Boston, northern California and other northern areas.

So how do we ensure we are getting enough vitamin D? Diet and supplements remain the safest and most consistent way for people of all ages and skin types to get their Vitamin D. Vitamin D can be found in fortified dairy products and cereals, orange juice, egg yolks, oily fish and dietary supplements. Try to look for supplements containing vitamin D3, the form most easily absorbed by the body.

If you still feel that the sun is a good way to get your vitamin D, it is important to realize that for lighter skin types, a few up to fifteen minutes of mid-day sun exposure on your forearms, a few times a week, would provide adequate vitamin D, so tanning will never be a safe or recommended option.

I support current recommendations from United States dermatology groups, which are 1,000 - 1500 IUs (international units) a day of vitamin D and 1000 mg of calcium for a healthy adult. Check with your doctor to be sure this amount is appropriate for you. This potential role of vitamin D and disease prevention is of great interest and I look forward to more information as further studies are conducted.

Glow-How: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

Monday, June 8th, 2009

What can I do to have that certain “glow” and make my skin look radiant? This is a question I hear all the time as a dermatologist in San Francisco. The answer is luckily more simple than people think! Below are highlights from a recent article in The Skin Cancer Foundation Journal that summarized the topic well along with some tips of my own.

Let’s start with the big picture…

If you have any tan, let your skin fade back to its normal tone. Playing up the coloring mother nature gave you is how to best get your glow-on.

If you have any obvious sun-spots or broken capillaries on your face, a trip or two to a dermatologist’s office can help to diminish their appearance and give your skin a more even-tone.

Maintain the integrity of your skin by wearing sunblock daily.

If you wear makeup, match it to the skin along your jaw-line as closely as possible. To add a bit more glow, you can apply bronzer or blush to the areas where natural highlighting occurs like the apples of the cheeks, center of forehead, bridge of nose and chin. Less is more, so don’t overdo or you’ll turn your glow into an obvious mask of makeup. Pale skin looks best with a light pink blush, whereas darker skin looks best with deeper shades. A fluffly, densely bristled brush works great to apply blush/bronzing powders.

As part of your daily routine….

Cleanse your face morning and evening. You can even use cleansing cloths, if it is more convenient. Cleansers do not have to foam up to be effective, so ask your dermatologist what is best for your skin type.

In the morning apply an anti-oxidant after cleansing. There are many good choices these days, including Skinceuticals Vitamin C serums, Obagi C Clarifying serum, RevaleSkin coffeberry or Prevage MD. Not only will they help protect the skin from free radical damage, but they will help to repair damaged skin cells.

Next apply a broad spectrum sunblock, with at least a 30 SPF. If you are out all day long, be sure to re-apply your sunblock to maintain its protective benefits. If re-applying a lotion is not to your liking, ColorScience makes a dry sunscreen that can easily be dusted on top of your makeup throughout the day.

Cleanse at night to remove the makeup, sunblock and oil build up from the day.

After your skin is dry, apply a Retin-A product sparingly to promote exfoliation of dead skin cells and really get your skin glowing. The less build up of dead skin cells, the less dull the skin will look. It will also help alleviate plugs in the skin, which can lead to acne and blemishes. And best of all, it increases collagen production to prevent and diminish fine lines and wrinkles.

Next up apply a moisturizer. This will relieve dryness associated with Retin-A products and help the skin maintain its natural moisture barrier. Skin that looks dewy reflects back light, adding to your glow.

If you cannot stand the idea of not having some color on your body, be sure to at least choose one of the self-tanning options. Tanning booths will only increase your risk of skin cancer and, really, who wants their skin to look like leather anyway? When applying a self-tanner to your body, make sure to prep the skin by using an exfoliating scrub or loofah, moisturize, then apply the self-tanning lotion. If your skin is dry in certain areas (like elbows and knees) it will absorb more of the lotion and look uneven. Make sure to wait at least 12 hours after shaving your legs to follow these steps. Self-tanners may aggravate certain skin conditions, so if you suffer from eczema or other skin issues, please check with your dermatologist before using any self-tanning methods.

Through my patients, I have seen that the tanning lotion application services offered at salons work very well. They will exfoliate your skin and apply the lotion much more easily and evenly than applying it yourself. I also like the look of Jergens Natural Glow moisturizer. This type of product moisturizes the skin and gradually encourages it to develop a natural color, without looking fake or orange.

Please feel free to contact our office with any questions about products or makeup. Start with these simple tips to get your glow-on today!

Tanning - Getting More Than You Bargained For

Monday, April 13th, 2009

Patients might accuse me and other dermatologists of sounding like broken records when it comes to the subject of tanning. We can’t help but be passionate about this particular issue. In my work, I am constantly faced with removing pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions from patients. These lesions, caused by UVA and UVB ray exposure, could potentially be life threatening and/or lead to surgery for removal. It is particularly disturbing that the age range of patients showing up with these issues is getting younger. So, you can understand a dermatologist’s perspective when they see women and men purposely trying to get a tan and needlessly exposing themselves to this risk.

There is no “safe” way to tan. Tanning beds are no exception! In fact, the rays in tanning beds can often be more intense than the sun itself. According to an AP article, melanoma (the deadliest type of skin caner) is now the top cancer afflicting women in their 20s in the UK, overtaking cervical cancer. They attribute this increase in young women (typically not the group where melanoma is so common) as a result of tanning bed use. In the United States, Florida lawmakers are considering a ban on tanning salon use for those under 16 years old. Miss Florida Teen, Kayla Collier, recently testified before a Florida state house committee supporting the proposal. She was diagnosed with a melanoma at age 16.

The possibility of skin cancer aside, tanning leads to accelerated aging of the skin. We know that exposure to UVA rays also cause more wrinkles, brown spots and breakdown of collagen. As the summer approaches and people seek dark, bronzed skin, consider alternatives like spray tans or lotions to keep your skin healthy. Avoid tanning and wear your sunblock!

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