Highlights
Featured Dermatologists
Dan Siegel, M.D.
Smithtown, NY
Stephen Proper, M.D.
Tampa, FL
Amy Slear, M.D.
Plainview, NY
New Medication Formulation (Imiquimod) for Skin Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is reviewing a new drug application for imiquimod in the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs).
Imiquimod is the active ingredient of Aldara, a topical medication for the treatment of actinic keratoses (a pre-cancerous skin lesion) and certain types of skin cancer.
This recent study evaluated the benefits of using 3.75% imiquimod in a two-week cycle regimen for the treatment of actinic keratoses. (Aldara consists of 5% imiquimod)
The study showed that 3.75% imiquimod, administered daily for two two-week treatment cycles (separated by a two-week rest period) cleared actininic keratoses at a rate superior to placebo. The 3.75% concentration of imiquimod was also shown to be more effective than 2.5% with comparable safety.
The new data were presented at the 2009 Summer Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)
Tanning may increase melanoma risk in light-skinned children
A recent study published in the September issue of the Archives of Dermatology showed that "light-skinned children who develop tans may be at increased risk for melanoma in later life."
Read the full story about skin cancer risk.
Encourage Elderly Family Members to Examine Their Skin
Based on current estimates, substantially more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States every year. Melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, is being diagnosed more rapidly in men age 65 and older than in the general population. A history of exposure to UV rays is a risk factor for skin cancer.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recommends that people lovingly remind their elderly family members to perform a skin self-examination for suspicious moles that could be skin cancer.
The Academy has created several tools to make it easy to determine if a mole is suspicious and should be brought to a dermatologist's attention. The Academy's Body Mole Map is a tool individuals can use to track their moles. The map provides information on how to perform a skin exam, images of the ABCDEs of melanoma and space for people to track their moles to determine any changes over time.
Choosing Sunscreen - Higher SPF Not Necessarily Better
There are now several sunscreen brands offering SPF of 50, 60, and even 100. Is there any benefit to these higher SPF (and higher-priced) sunscreens?
SPF, or "sun protection factor", is a measurement of how much the sunscreen shields a person from ultraviolet B rays (UVB). These are the rays that cause sunburn. Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 offers protection from 96.7% of UVB rays, while sunscreen with an SPF of 50 offers protection from 98% of UVB rays. So higher SPFs offer only marginal improvement in protection.
More importantly, SPF does NOT measure the ability of the sunscreen to protect users from ultraviolet A rays (UVA). UVA rays penetrate more deeply into the skin than UVB rays and lead to the premature aging of skin (the early development of wrinkles) and increase the risk of developing skin cancer. It is possible to have a sunscreen with SPF100 and still have little or no protection from UVA rays.
Unfortunately, people who use high-priced sunscreens may not use as much, nor apply it as frequently as they should. And they may be less willing to share it with their family and friends.
Using Sunscreen - Let's Do Better!
Results of a recent Consumer Reports telephone survey of 1,000 American adults regarding sunscreen use were quite disturbing.
The most alarming results showed that 31% never wear sunscreen.
And although children are very susceptible to the long-term consequences of sun exposure, 27% of parents with kids under 12 years of age never or only sometimes apply sunscreen on their children when they are outside for 2 to 4 hours (14% of parents don’t even apply it to their kids when their children will be outside for more than 4 hours.)
Fortunately, the importance of sunscreen use been has been taken to heart by some, primarily women. When planning to spend 2 to 4 hours in the sun, 48% of women reported being likely to wear sunscreen vs. 27% of men.
Tanning Beds Classified as Carcinogenic
A new report on tanning beds and cancer was issued in July by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It placed tanning beds in the "highest cancer risk" category. The agency also reclassified all UV radiation as carcinogenic to humans, including UVA, UVB and UVC. These were previously classified as "possibly carcinogenic."
The agency, part of the World Health Organization (WHO) concluded that the risk of melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, increases by 75 percent when use of tanning beds and sunlamps begins before 30 years of age. This high-risk tanning behavior, seen primarily in females, could explain the increasing melanoma rates for females 15-29 years old.
"Indoor tanning is particularly troubling because it is unnecessary and is practiced mainly for cosmetic reasons. Individuals, particularly young people, who utilize tanning beds are intentionally putting their health at risk," stated Dr. Pariser, President of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). "We hope that this new classification will persuade individuals to stop using or avoid indoor tanning all together."
This year, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States, exceeding the incidence of all other cancers combined. It is estimated that there will be about 121,840 new cases of melanoma in 2009. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer for young adults 25-29 years old and the second most common form of cancer for adolescents and young adults 15-29 years old. Read the full report about tanning beds and cancer.
Vitamin D: AAD Recommends use of Nutritional Sources, Not Sun
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) recently issued a revised recommendations for vitamin D intake after reviewing recent scientific literature. Recent reports have shown the importance of having sufficient levels of this vitamin for optimal health.
The AAD continues to recommend that the public obtain vitamin D from nutritional sources and dietary supplements, and not from unprotected exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or indoor tanning devices, as UV radiation is a known risk factor for the development of skin cancer.
The recommendations also now state that individuals who regularly and properly practice sun protection, such as the daily use of sunscreen on exposed skin or the wearing of sun protective clothing, may be at risk for vitamin D insufficiency. A higher dose of vitamin D may be necessary for these individuals and others with known risk factors for vitamin D insufficiency, such as those with dark skin, the elderly, photosensitive individuals, people with limited sun exposure, obese individuals or those with fat malabsorption. Therefore, the Academy encourages those with concerns about their levels of vitamin D to discuss options for obtaining sufficient dietary or supplementary sources of vitamin D with their physician.
Dermatologist Offers Tips for Skin & Sun Safety
You can listen to a very informative audio Q&A between NPR's Terry Gross and Dr. Dr. Darrell Rigel, Past President of the American Academy of Dermatology. This 27 minute audio clip captures many interesting points.
Ingenol Mebutate for Actinic Keratoses
A medication under investigation for the treatment of actinic keratoses (AKs) appears to have some clinical benefit in preliminary pilot studies. Ingenol mebutate, derived from the plant Euphorbia peplus, appears to act on AKs by altering the skin's immune reactions of the skin. The AK clearance rate reported in the study were similar to what is seen with existing medications for actinic keratoses, Aldara (imiquimod) and 5-fluorouracil (Carac, Efudex).
This manufacturer funded study published in the February 27, 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD) showed clinical benefit in 3 days of treatment. This medication remains under study and is not FDA approved for use.
Skin Cancer Cream (imiquimod)
In a clinical study published in Dermatologic Surgery, investigators used Aldara (imiquimod) in conjunction with surgery for the treatment of two types of melanoma, lentigo maligna, a type of "melanoma-in-situ", and lentigo maligna melanoma, a more aggressive form. Though surgical removal of lentigo maligna is frequently used to treat the non-invasive form of the cancer, it can have high local recurrence rates.
The researchers found that Aldara (imiquimod), a topical cream, may help to reduce the area needing surgery, manage lentigo maligna and hopefully minimize its recurrence.
Dr. Scott Fosko, lead investigator of the study, stated "while more study is needed to understand how the drug works and which patients are likely to benefit from it, we are optimistic that the drug may prove to be a good option for some patients."
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. Melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer and is the leading cancer in young adults, 25-29 years old.
Read more about this study of a cream for skin cancer.
Skin Cancer Rates Rising
Cancer researchers in the UK report an alarming rise in new cases of malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The number of people diagnosed with malignant melanoma in the UK has reached to an all-time high of 10,400. This represents a 3-fold increase since the 1970s, when skin cancer rates were approximately 3.4 per 100,000 people. By 2006, the rate had increased to 14.7 per 100,000 people.
Experts believe that binge tanning, either at home or abroad, when people take advantage of sunseeking package holidays, is the main reason for the increase.
Cancer Research UK's director of health information, Sara Hiom, told the press the figures are very worrying. "With the rates of malignant melanoma in the UK rising faster than any other cancer it's more important than ever that people are aware of the dangers of getting burnt, either in the sun or from using sunbeds," she said.
Read more about skin cancer rates.
May is National Skin Cancer/Melanoma Awareness Month
Skin cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with over one million people diagnosed each year. More than 90% of skin cancer is causes by excessive exposure to the sun, making skin cancer one of the most preventable types of cancer.
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) is encouraging people to screen themselves and their loved ones for skin cancer. 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. Learn more about skin cancer prevention and detection.
Increasing Incidence of Basal Cell Carcinoma in Young Women
Recent research findings show a higher than expected incidence of basal cell carcinoma in women under age 40. Dermatologist Jason K. Rivers, MD, FRCPC, FAAD, clinical professor of dermatology at the University of British Columbia, presented his findings at the 2009 annual meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) after reviewing the medical charts of 885 patients diagnosed with non-melanoma skin cancers.
"Although the actual number of young women diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma was relatively low, it is disturbing that we noticed a consistent increase in these numbers given that this type of non-melanoma skin cancer is a result of intermittent damage from ultraviolet radiation early in life," explained Dr. Rivers. "This means that young people are getting enough ultraviolet exposure at a very young age to cause the development of skin cancers that normally do not occur until later in life or generally in people over age 40."
Dr. Rivers added that it is important for young people to be vigilant about practicing proper sun protection and limiting their sun exposure, whether to natural or artificial sunlight. This advice is especially important for people diagnosed with skin cancer, as non-melanoma skin cancer increases a person's risk for developing future skin cancers, including melanoma. Read more about changes in skin cancer risk.
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"Indoor Tanning is Out"
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