e-Newsletter: April 2009 Issue

Spring is the time for renewal at Fair Oaks Skin Care Center

In This Issue

May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

FOSCC News and Events

What is Latisse?

Brown Spots, and marks on the skin . . .

Dermatolgists' Top Tips for Mature Skin

1 .. 2.. 3 .. Coupons!

May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month

This May, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) is encouraging people to "Screen the One You Love" for skin cancer on popular holidays, such as Mother's Day (May 10) and Father's Day (June 21). Performing regular skin self-examinations is an easy way to detect suspicious moles that could be cancerous, and research shows involving a partner in the process can improve the early detection of skin cancer. Visit www.melanomamonday.org to find out how to perform a self-exam, download a body mole map or find free skin cancer screenings held at locations across the country.

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Top 8 Shocking Facts About Skin Cancer

Men are diagnosed with skin cancer more often than women. According to the American Cancer Society, men are twice as likely to develop skin cancer over women. In fact, it is more common than prostate cancer, lung cancer, and colon cancer in men over 50. This makes skin cancer the most common cancer in men over 50.

Click here to read all 8 Facts from About.com

WATCH BREAKING NEWS FROM MSNBC

Skin cancer risks for women

March 25: A new study suggests sun exposure may not be the only reason for the increase in melanoma cases in women. NBC chief medical editor Dr. Nancy Snyderman discusses the findings.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/29874440#29874440

FOSCC News and Events

FOLLOW-UP SURVEY!

Would you like your opinion heard? We're very interested in what you have to say. At Fair Oaks we're continually striving to improve our services. Our goal is to provide each patient with a level of service that makes them feel completely cared for, fully informed and that they've received the best medical treatment available. Your feedback is important to us. Each survey participant will be sent (via email) a $10 coupon towards any product or service after the survey is closed.

At Fair Oaks we understand the importance of staying on the cutting edge of training and medical treatment in Dermatology. Dr. Dintiman recently attended the 67th Annual Meeting for the Academy of Dermatology in San Francisco California, held March 6-10, 2009.

are located on the sidebar of this newsletter and online at:

www.fairoaksskincare.com/specials.html

This package is part of the FOSCC's Signature Series.

Be sure to visit our Signature Series web page to learn more about all of the packages and pricing.

What is Latisse™?

Latisse™ solution is a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes, making them longer, thicker, and darker. Eyelash hypotrichosis is another name for having inadequate or not enough eyelashes.

How does it work?

Latisse™ is believed to affect the growth (anagen) phase of the eyelash hair cycle in 2 ways: first, it increases the length of this phase; and second, it increases the number of hairs in this growth phase.

How soon will I see results?

The onset of effect with Latisse™ solution is gradual. In clinical trial, the majority of Latisse™ users saw a significant improvement by 2 months.

How is Latisse™ different?

Only Latisse™ has been approved by the FDA as a prescription treatment for hypotrichosis used to grow eyelashes. It also has been studied in clinical trial to demonstrate its safety and effectiveness.

Brown spots, and marks on the skin

Lentigines are usually large flat brown spots most commonly on the face and hands or other sun exposed areas. Some refer to them as "liver spots". They result from sun damage exposure and usually arise in middle age. It is important to distinguish the harmless lentigo from an early melanoma, known as lentigo maligna. The latter is usually made up of more than one color and has more irregular borders. If a brown spot changes or become more irregular it should be checked by your dermatologist.

Although actinic keratoses, precancerous scaly patches on sun exposed areas, are typically slightly red; they may be brown and scaly. They are treated with liquid Nitrogen (cryotherapy).
Seborrheic keratoses are common brown marks, seen on the face especially along the hairline and on the trunk. They are usually scaly, or even thick and crusty. They are inherited and may increase in number as a person matures. These too may be treated with liquid nitrogen.

To prevent brown spots, and sun damage, sun protection with a wide spectrum high SPF (30 or higher) blocking UVA and UVB is very important. Once they are formed, the brown spots may fade with creams such as retinoids, hydroquinone, vitamin C and alpha hydroxy acids. The Obagi skin line combines these agents and is often recommended to help improve skin tone. Chemical peels and microdermabrasions are also helpful in combination with these products.

The fraxel laser, the latest addition to treating brown spots, is a fractionated resurfacing laser used to remove brown spots, as well as restore more youthful skin in both tone and texture. This laser can be used on the face, neck, chest and hands and requires minimal downtime.

Dermatologists' Top Tips for Mature Skin

Dermatologists share skin care tips that can help mature skin look and feel its best

No matter what your age, you can have healthy, vibrant skin - skin that leaves people wondering how many years "young" you are. Following are tips that dermatologists regularly tell their patients with mature skin.

Wear sunscreen every day. Sunscreen does more than prevent sunburn. Daily use of sunscreen throughout your life can reduce signs of aging such as age spots and fine lines as well as significantly decrease your risk of developing skin cancer. Newer sunscreens eliminate that sticky or gritty feeling, and many products feel comfortable under makeup.

Dermatologists recommend wearing a sunscreen that offers:

A Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30
Broad-spectrum protection (shields skin from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays)

Avoid tanning beds and other artificial tanning devices. Tanning beds, sunlamps, and other artificial tanning devices are not a safe alternative to the sun. Just like the sun, indoor tanning equipment emits UVA and UVB radiation. In some cases, the radiation produced during indoor tanning may be stronger than that of the sun. Exposure to UV radiation damages the DNA in the cells of the skin and can accelerate skin aging, cause skin cancer, suppress the immune system, and lead to eye diseases such as cataracts and melanoma of the eye.
Get regular skin cancer exams. The risk of developing skin cancer increases as we age. Dermatologists encourage regular skin cancer examinations, which can help detect skin cancer early. With early detection and proper treatment, the cure rate for skin cancer averages 95%. When detection and treatment are delayed, the outcome is not as favorable.
See a dermatologist. In addition to examining your skin for skin cancer, a dermatologist can help ensure that your skin will look its best for years to come. Dermatologists are uniquely trained to analyze the skin, hair, and nails. They can spot potential problems and diagnose a multitude of conditions ranging from minor to life-threatening.