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... of interest.....:
At Atrium Dermatology® we are constantly on the lookout for articles we believe are of interest to our patients. Clicking on underlined text will connect you directly to the referenced article.
The Virtues of Washing Hands with Soap and Water
The Wall Street Journal recently focused on hand hygiene. Under the caption “Fighting Disease with Soap and Water,” the Journal noted that “the list of infections that can spread via unwashed hands reads like the Biblical plagues!” I’m not sure I fully agree with that assessment, but the sampling of diseases quoted in the article caught my attention.
After reviewing the unglamorous history of the importance of hand washing (in 1847 a Viennese doctor named Ignaz Semmelweis instituted hand-cleaning after linking fatalities in his maternity ward to medical students treating his patients after working on cadavers), the article opined that hand washing is “the most effective way to stay healthy”. However, the writer bemoaned, “Many people don't do it often enough, or long enough, to be effective.”
Quoting Health columnist Melinda Beck, the Journal then offered a guide to “the best way to wash off germs and protect against sickness”.
When to do it.
· Every time after you use the bathroom, (every surface presents an opportunity for germs to spread)
· whenever you change a diaper, pick up animal waste, sneeze, cough or blow your nose;
· when you take public transportation,
· when you insert or remove contact lenses,
· when you prepare food,
· when you handle garbage and
· before eating. Ironically, she points out, even at a food hygiene convention she attended everybody shook hands after the talk, and then ran straight for the food line. Nobody washed their hands!
How to do it.
Simple soap and water! In one study it was found that soap and water removed slightly more virus than three alcohol-based hand rubs. When volunteers didn't clean their hands, most of the virus was still present an hour after exposure. As to technique, the article notes that “it's the mechanical process of washing that's so effective. Soap molecules surround and lift the germs, friction from rubbing your hands loosens them, and water rinses them down the drain.”
Experts recommend
· using warm water, and
· enough liquid soap to build a lather
Technique.
· Lace your fingers together to cover all the surfaces.
· Rub the fingertips of one hand into the palm of the other, then
· Rub the fingertips of one hand into the palm of the other (i.e.: reverse!).
· Keep rubbing for as long as it takes to sing "Happy Birthday" twice.
· Rinse thoroughly.
The article suggests that one “leaves the water on while you grab a paper towel and use it to shut off the faucet. Take the towel with you to use on the door handle as well.” In fact, I would suggest that you might want to hold on to that towel throughout the day, in case you have to shake hands with someone before your next bathroom trip! A little extreme, perhaps, but it makes sense!
Antibacterial soaps are no more effective than regular soap. In fact, suggests the article, “some antibacterial ingredients like triclosan leave a residue on the skin that continues killing some bacteria. Critics worry that the remaining bacteria could become resistant, not only to soap but also to antibiotics.” Also, the writer concludes, antibacterial soap gives people a false sense of security.
Drying.
The Journal advocates using paper towels over those awful air dryers –which it observes, can blow remaining germs as far as six feet away!
How to Check for Skin Cancer
After noting that over one million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States, Wikipedia, in an on-line “how to” article, points out that if you spend any time exposed to UV rays, whether it's from the sun or from tanning beds, you are at risk. The danger exists no matter where you live or how dark your skin is.
The Wikipedia article includes instruction on how to conduct a self examination. At Atrium Dermatology® we couldn't agree more that, along with taking preventative measures, the best way to minimize the threat of skin cancer is to check yourself regularly, and detect it early on. Plan to give yourself a skin exam once a month, in addition to your annual check-up with Dr. Gumpertz. If you are concerned about what you see (or feel) on your self examination, call us at (440) 646-1600 or email us at AtriumDerm@aol.com to set up an appointment.
It’s hard to laugh about sunburn, but we found this Bud Light Commercial rather amusing!
5 ways to protect against skin cancer
· Watch your shadow. If it's shorter than you are, the sun's rays are strong. Go inside or seek shade.
· Wear sunglasses. Look for lenses with 99% to 100% UV absorption. They provide the best protection for your eyes and surrounding skin.
· Choose your clothes. Cute or not, a sundress can't protect your skin as well as clothing with more coverage. Choose outfits made of tightly woven materials that you can't see through when held up to the light.
· Wear a hat. Look for a wide brim, which will shade your neck, ears and face. Baseball cap-wearers: Slather sunscreen onto your neck and ears.
· Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Sunscreen. Oh, yes, and sunscreen. Use one with an SPF of at least 15 and reapply more often than you probably think you need to, even on hazy or cloudy days.
An excellent article published in the Dallas Morning News on July 7, 2008 identifies
The SPF Factor: What it means
On May 21, 2009 the Houston Chronicle addressed the issue of SPF (“sun protection factor”) numbers. Referencing a Food and Drug Administration report, the article noted that sunscreen labeled “SPF 15” does not mean that the wearer can stay in the sun 15 times longer than if no sunscreen had been applied. Rather, SPF numbers are simply a gauge indicating the amount of harmful ultraviolet light making its way to the skin.
SPF 15 blocks about 93 percent of UVB (ultraviolet B) rays that cause sunburns, while SPF 30 absorbs nearly 97 percent. SPF 50 will stop nearly 98 percent of these UVB rays.
But any sunscreen's effectiveness will depend on a number of variables, including the amount used, the time of day when the user is exposed to the sun, the time of year, and how much the user sweats.
We recommend
· covering up as much as possible,
· wearing a wide brimmed hat, and
· applying at least one ounce of sunscreen to exposed areas of your body (about as much as would fill a shot glass)
· . . . at least every two hours.
The Burning SPF Question: Is Bigger Better?
In an article on sunscreen protection on June 22, 2009, the Wall Street Journal supported the idea that cheaper sunscreens may be just as effective as their more expensive counterparts. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunscreens should be water resistant, have an SPF of at least 15, provide broad-spectrum coverage against UVA and UVB light, and must contain the proper ingredients. Although the article fails to mention what these ingredients are, it suggests that these would include avobenzone (also called Parsol 1789), titanium dioxide or zinc oxide.
However, protection doesn't increase proportionately with a bigger SPF number; SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays.
The Journal notes that since SPF only applies to UVB rays (the Food and Drug Administration does not offer UVA ratings), sunscreens which claim broad-spectrum protection may not actually be delivering fully on their promise.
But perhaps the soundest advice offered in the Journal is that to be effective one must reapply a one-ounce amount frequently.
Other News of Interest to Atrium Dermatology® Patients:
Online Health Quizzes allow pharmaceutical companies to market their drugs:
On March 26, 2009, the New York Times reported that one of the most popular tests on the Internet is really a marketing source for pharmaceutical companies. The website suggests that, based on your responses to a questionnaire, it can supply products that will make you look young. An on-line test asks about 150 questions about lifestyle and family history and, based upon “how young or old your habits make you" it then assigns a biological age. The website then makes recommendations on how to “get younger”.
In reality, the website makes its money by allowing pharmaceutical companies, including Pfizer, Novartis, and GlaxoSmithKline to use almost any combination of answers from individual tests to find people to market to. The data released from responses to the seemingly innocuous questionaire includes whether the respondent is taking antidepressants, how sexually active they are, and even if their marriage is happy.
-Be warned!
Partners may help in conducting skin self-exams:
On February 14, 2009 the Tampa Tribune reported that, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Valentine's Day was "the perfect time to 'Screen the One You Love' for skin cancer." Dermatologist and AAD president C. William Hanke, M.D., stated, "In my practice, oftentimes patients tell me that their partner urged them to get an unusual-looking mole checked -- and in some cases these moles turn out to be skin cancer." A 2007 study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that people who are assisted by a partner in performing skin self-exams are more likely to follow a regular detection routine than those who rely solely on themselves for motivation."
The difference between dry winter skin and eczema:
In the February 15, 2009 edition of New York's Newsday a Mayo Clinic dermatologist wrote that while "ordinary winter dry skin and eczema might look similar...the conditions are unrelated, with different causes. Eczema will likely require a trip to see a dermatologist...to discuss treatment options," and to check for "signs of infection in the eczematous skin. Antibiotics will be necessary if the skin is infected." Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema "is a skin disorder that's related to an immune system sensitivity" in which "patches of inflamed skin...can be very itchy, weepy and crusty." To treat the condition, "nonprescription anti-itch creams can provide relief," but "a doctor also might recommend corticosteroid creams" or "another class of ointment medications, called immunomodulators," which "help reduce flare-ups." Still, "it's wise to see a dermatologist," because "other skin disorders, such as psoriasis or even malignancies, also can appear as small areas that are dry, flaky, red, cracked or sore."
Artificial Tanning Booths and Cancer:
redOrbit Knowledge Network, an online community for those with an interest in science, space, health and technology, recently reported the results of a study conducted by Mark Purdue of the National Cancer Institute. Dr. Purdue examined melanoma incidence between 1973 and 2004, and found that the rate had jumped by 50 percent since 1980 for women between the ages of 15 and 39. For men of the same age, the rate remained stable.
Purdue concludes that the disturbing result stems from a combination of excessive sun exposure and the possible overuse of tanning salons, which tend to cater more to women than to men. Tanning beds emit ultraviolet rays that can damage the skin the same way that the sun can.
Long-term exposure to artificial sources of ultraviolet rays like tanning beds (or to the sun's natural rays) increases both men and women's risk of developing skin cancer. In addition, exposure to tanning salon rays increases damage caused by sunlight because ultraviolet light actually thins the skin, making it less able to heal. Women who use tanning beds more than once a month are 55 percent more likely to develop malignant melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.
According to the National Cancer Institute, more than one million people are diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancer in the United States every year. In fact, non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the country. Forty to 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have this form of skin cancer at least once. These are startling statistics for a cancer that can, for the most part, be prevented.
WHO IS AT RISK?
Almost everyone who frequents a tanning salon or exposes themselves to the sun is putting themselves at risk for skin cancer. The risk is greatest for people with fair skin; blonde, red, or light hair; and blue, green, or gray eyes. Artificial tanning can also be more dangerous for those who burn easily, have already been treated for skin cancer, or have a family member who has had skin cancer. In addition, women have a higher risk of contracting skin cancer on their legs, and men have a higher risk of getting it on their backs.
CAN IT BE PREVENTED?
There are various things than one can do to prevent their exposure to artificial sources of ultraviolet rays:
· Avoid tanning beds and booths.
· Instead of going to a tanning salon, try tanning sprays. In fact, some salons now provide only tanning spray services.
· Regardless of your exposure to natural or artificial UV rays, conduct a monthly skin self-exam looking for any abnormalities (like bumps or sores that don't heal) or moles that have changed size, color or shape. Be sure to check all areas. Have a friend or family member check your back.
· Make an appointment to visit Dr. Esti Gumpertz to get an annual exam. If caught early skin cancer is now almost 100 percent curable.
Long-term exposure to artificial (or natural) sources of ultraviolet rays increases one's risk of developing skin cancer. However there are alternatives one can take to minimize the risk associated with artificial rays such as using sunless tanning lotions or sprays in concert with regular skin checks by your physician or dermatologist.
Interaction of Sunscreen and Bug Control Products
On March 2, 2009 the Seattle Times addressed an important issue faced by those of us who enjoy the great outdoors once the weather warms up. The article questioned whether there is a product containing both sunscreen and bug control (deet) on the market? Of perhaps more practical concern was the effect of interaction of the two products if applied independently to avoid both sunburn and mosquito bites.
The Times reported that several combination products with both insect repellent and sunscreen are available, but cautioned that The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend their use. This is because while deet should be used sparingly, sunscreen requires frequent applications.
Recent research reported in the British Journal of Dermatology shows another problem with such combination products: mixing oxybenzone (a common sunscreen ingredient) with deet dramatically increases absorption of both chemicals through the skin.
In addition, The Lancet reports that deet can reduce the effectiveness of sunscreen applied at the same time.
The conclusion: apply sunscreen first and allow it to dry before putting on insect repellent. Although this reduces deet absorption, it may increase the passage of oxybenzone through the skin.
Atrium Dermatology® Expert skin care you can trust
We proudly service Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties.
Call us at (440) 646-1600
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