The high price of tanning booths.

Recent research links one-in-twenty cases of melanoma to indoor tanning beds.  

Studies show people who frequent indoor tanning beds have a 20% increased risk of skin cancer and this sky-rockets to 87% if they start before 35 years of age.  Young people need to know what’s at stake. 

As a practicing plastic surgeon in Florida, I know melanoma is a potential killer. 

There is a movement afoot to "ban the tan". Currently four states, New York, California, Rhode Island and Vermont, have laws banning tanning for minors.

Please heed my warning and pass it on to friends and families.

NEW CANCER DRUG FOR BASAL CELL CARCINOMA

This is another in Dr. Robert Brueck's blog posting as a Fort Myers plastic surgeon dealing with skin and cosmetic surgery issues.

The most frequent type of cancer in the common form of skin cancer is called basal cell carcinoma. This cancer is so common and it frequently increases with age.

It usually grows locally and is treated with surgery the majority of the time.

A new drug called Erivedge will be available to treat more advanced forms of basal cell in patients’ who are not candidates for surgery or radiation. It is also indicated in treating metastatic basal cell – that is a rare breed.

In 32 years I can recall maybe 1 or 2 cases. This is the first ever FDA drug approved for metastatic basal cell carcinoma.

IS THE SUN REALLY BAD FOR YOU?

Dr. Robert Brueck MD, feels it is important to keep his patient informed about health subjects, such as skin cancer, especially since his Fort Myers Plastic Surgery practice is in a "hotbed" (pun intended) of sunshine activities.

For years, we have been taught that sun exposure is bad for us– particularly excessive sun exposure. The rates of melanoma, the deadly form of skin cancer are surely on the rise. From 1991-2004 the rate per 100,000 people has risen from 9.39% to 13.91%.

The $64,000 question is why? Some feel as we become more aware of this disease pathologists are calling more and more pigmented lesions early melanoma. Wih something as potentially deadly as skin cancer, it surely is better to err on the side of over diagnosis.

The big question is, "Is the sun also the culprit"? There is some research which says melanomas DECREASE with sun exposure and can INCREASE with sunscreen. What is interesting is the rate of melanomas in people who work indoors has been increasing since 1940.

UV light has sun damaging UVA and vitamin D producing UVB. Both can produce tanning and burning. The theory is that office workers get sun through the windows which blocks UVB, hence lower vitamin D levels in skin. Vitamin D is a very strong anti-oxidant. In fact, it is one of nature's most potent anti-cancer agents.

Basically if you get NO sun your body is not producing Vitamin D in your skin with the net result being more skin cancer ie. melanoma. You can take Vitamin D supplements but sunlight producing vitamin D in your skin is a better choice.

Interesting. But, in the end, I think moderation is prudent and wise.

Dr. Brueck discusses skin cancer on TV's American health Journal

I regularly report here on subjects of skin care and health.

In this excerpt from my recent appearance on the syndicated TV show, American Health Journal, I discuss the important subject of skin cancer.

No one is immune to this potential health hazard. But modifying behavior can improve your chances of avoiding it.

I also maintain a Web site at Beauty-by-Brueck. You are invited to visit and get updates on all things related to skin health and cosmetic surgery.



I hope you acquired some new information and understanding from this message. I appear on American Health Journal on Fort Myers WINK TV, Channel 5, each Sunday morning at 11:00 am. Please tune in. Thank you.

Here comes the summer...and the sun. Thoughts on skin cancer from Dr. Robert J. Brueck MD, Fort Myers plastic surgeon.

Dr. Robert J. Brueck MD, a Board Certified plastic surgeon, frequently blogs on subjects of health, skin and developments in plastic surgery. This time, he comments on melanoma.
~~~~~~~

Memorial Day Weekend signals the start of summer, when we all tend to spend more time in the sun and the sun is closer to the Northern Hemisphere.

For years we have known about the cause-effect relationship with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma and the sun.

Some researchers, though, were not convinced that UV radiation had a similar cause and effect relationship with melanomas.

Now, a new study published in Nature (December 2009) confirms the role of the sun in the development of melanomas. Researchers at Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton UK mapped the complete genome of a patient with melanoma; in other words these were the genes of the melanoma from that particular patient.

The researchers found thousands of mutations in the patient’s genome, all of which were caused by radiation. There were in excess of 33,000 mutations mapped. They compared the genome of normal skin and melanoma. These abnormal mutations occur over many years but our bodies are programmed to repair the damage done to the DNA caused by the inciting effect of the sun.

In the end, the failure of our body’s ability to repair the damaged DNA or the gene, results in melanoma.

Be cautious, be alert and get a checkup. Melanoma is lethal because it is the one form of skin cancer that has the ability to metastasize not only through the lymphatic, but the blood stream as well.

There is no doubt that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure and that ounce should be an SPF of 30 to 35.

Is this the cure for (skin) cancer? Ask Dr. Brueck

REPORT ON NEW SKIN THERAPY RX FROM DR. ROBERT BRUECK, MD, FORT MYERS, FL COSMETIC SURGEON.

Researchers continue to unlock the magic key to find “the cure.” Humans are plagued with many cancers. One that is very resistant to treatment in later stages is melanoma, one of three varieties of skin cancer.

An early small clinical trial in the treatment of advanced melanoma is using an attack on the melanoma cells using their own genetic characteristics. 9 of 16 patients with advanced melanoma responded to a drug known as PLX4032. These tumors that responded had a mutation or abnormality in a gene for the protein BRAF which plays a crucial role in melanomas growth and spread.

The broader picture here is that scientists now can examine the genetic make-up of certain cancers and develop therapies to combat the cancer based on the cancers genetic design.

BRAF is essential to the growth of certain cancers. So developing drugs to inhibit or shut off this gene will lead to less tumor growth.

How long will the effects of these new genetic drugs last?

Many questions remain but new hope lies on the horizon.

Is Vitamin D the new Wonder Drug? Dr. Brueck comments.

A recent study done by researchers in Germany studied the Vitamin D levels in 3200 men and women.

They found that those study participants who had high Vitamin D levels were less likely to die from cancer.

A number of studies by other researchers have shown that increased Vitamin D levels increases bone density and may modify, in a favorable way, cardiovascular risk factors.

Ah, my favorite bedtime snack – a couple of Vitamin D tablets.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you are going live longer because of Vitamin D, why not do it beautifully? Read Dr. Brueck’s website, Beauty-by Brueck.com , for ideas about cosmetic surgery procedures that can help you realize the most beautiful you possible.

Melanoma - The most dreaded skin cancer

Dr. Robert Brueck, Board Certified cosmetic surgeon in Fort Myers, Florida, reports on a new book about this dreaded form of skin cancer. Concerns about melanoma spring from its propensity to spread via the lymphatics as well as the blood stream.

The incidence of melanoma is rising by 4%-6% each year.

For years, we have been taught and have been telling our patients that sun exposure is a predisposing factor.

Now, along comes a book entitled "The Sun and the "Epidemic" of Melanoma: Myth on Myth!" The author is Dr. Bernard Ackerman, a world renowned expert on melanoma. His book attempts to dispel some myths about melanoma.

Dr. Ackerman believes genes are more important than sun exposure. He notes in his book that Asians and Africans only develop melanoma on their palms, soles, nails and mucous membranes (re: mouth-type).

I personally feel genes are very important, ie. we inherit skin type - freckles and such - from our parents. This can predispose us to melanoma.

I also feel that the sun can, in some cases, act as a catalyst to initiate the development of melanoma.

We are learning more every day. In the meantime, it's probably best to limit prolonged exposure to the sun and keep your skin covered whenever possible outside in the sun. I also recommend that you subscribe to a 'feed' of this blog to continue to receive updates about this subject and news from the world of cosmetic surgery.

As a Board Certified cosmetic surgeon practicing in sunny Fort Myers, Florida, I also cover a wide range of plastic surgery and cosmetic surgery subjects on my web site, http://www.Beauty-by-Brueck.com . You are invited to visit.

Skin Cancer Prevention with Coffee?

WOW!

That morning cup of Java may do more than lift your tired eyelids.

Recent work done by researchers has shown that mice given caffeine are protected against UV-induced (sun) skin cancer.

This research is being done by M. Allen Conney at the State University of New Jersey.

So, if you drink coffee, maybe you should have an extra 'cuppa' in the morning. If you drink tea, you might consider a caffeine pill as a booster.

Excuse me now. Have to go get another cup of morning Joe. The sun isn't up yet.

For more information about matters relating to skin health and cosmetic surgery, stop a spell to read Dr. Brueck's web site.

You could do it over coffee

The latest on sunscreens, sun blocks and sun burn

The link between sun exposure and skin cancer was made all the way back in 1918 by Dr. Norman Paul of Sydney, Australia.

There are components to solar radiation; long wavelength ultraviolet A (UVA) and short wavelength ultraviolet B (UVB). UVA is broken down into UVA and UVA2. For a long time it was thought only UVB caused sun damage to the skin, ie. sunburn.

Research over the past two decades has shown that UVA exposure is the key cause of skin wrinkling and solar damage. This also correlates with a higher incidence of skin cancer. In the early 80’s, it became obvious that sun screens needed to provide a greater degree of protection against UVA rays.

This is what is meant when we speak of “broad spectrum”. It means the sunscreen provides protection against both UVB and UVA.

Generally, I recommend a broad spectrum sunblock with a SPF of 30 or 35. 50 is okay too. Any SPF rating above 50 really doesn’t add much in extra protection but the ingredients are so concentrated they may be irritating to your skin.

What does SPF mean? The initials stand for Sun Protection Factor. If you use a sunscreen with an SPF of 20 it means it would take 20 times longer to get a sunburn than if you had NO sunscreen.

If you get a broad spectrum” sunblock with an SPF of 30-40 or 50, you should have excellent protection. I usually recommend patients liberally apply SPF20 in three coats to exposed areas prior to going out in the sun. You should reapply this every two hours or so.

Today, there are 17 chemical and physical (ie. zinc oxide) screens approved by the FDA.

There are NEW proposed ratings for UVB and UVA protection

Proposed UVB Labeling

• Low – SPF 2 – 14

• Medium – SPF 15 – 29

• High – SPF 30 – 50

• Highest – SPF 50+

Proposed UVA Labeling

Low - *

Medium - **

High - ***

Highest - ****

Some new changes to occur over the next one to two years:

- Sun protection factor would become sun burn protection factor.

- SPF numbers would be capped at 50 since higher numbers don’t provide any significant added protection.

- Terms such as “sunblock” and “waterproof” would no longer be allowed. “Sunscreen” would replace “sunblock”.

- Sunscreens that maintain their SPF numbers offer 40-80 minutes of total immersion would be labeled “water resistant” and not "waterproof".

- Also, sunscreens would contain a warning that sun exposure increases the risk of skin cancer and aging.

There you have it – just in time for your summer sojourn to the beach or Disney World. One other thing – "gooping" is not only allowed, but recommended

Sunscreens. What's new? What's best?

One of the most common questions I get asked is, “What is the best sunscreen?”

There is NO best but there are some basic principles to keep in mind when buying a sunscreen. To put it simply, buy one that is broad spectrum, has an SPF of 30-35 and is waterproof.

There is NO question that all types of skin cancer are related to the sun - the more sun, the greater risk. When we talk about the sun and its harmful rays, it is important to understand that the sun is composed of UVA, UVB and infrared rays. UVB is the one that causes the skin to get red and burn. When we talk about a sunscreen’s SPF factor we are talking about its protection provided to the skin for UVB rays.

These are the rays associated with sunburn. The SPF factor tells us nothing about UVA rays. UVA rays penetrate deeper into skin and can cause significant damage to the cells in the dermis. That is why it is important to get a broad spectrum sunscreen so you will get protection from the deeper penetrating sun rays.

Recent research seems to indicate that UVA can cause more damage to the cellular DNA which in turn can lead to more skin cancers. The problem right now is that there is no consensus on how rate sunscreens for UVA protection. UVA damage can result in the formation of free radicals and peroxides.

Solar rays are little bundles of energy called 'photons'. These photons are absorbed by the sunscreen. Once the photons are absorbed by the sunscreen, a reaction can take place where new secondary substances can be formed which themselves can cause redness, irritation and the like.

That is one of the reasons that many of the newer sunscreens on the market include anti-oxidants in their formulation. The jury is still out on their effectiveness.

Research is ongoing. I am going to throw some new names – medical terms for new chemicals or ingredients that can offer GREATER protection against damaging effects of UVA. Beware – some of these chemicals are a mouthful and you don’t have to learn how to spell them – just know they exist and the next time you but a sun block you may want to see if these new substances are in your sun block.

One of these new substances was helioplex. One of the new UVA absorbers approved by the FDA is Mexoryl. Neutragena did some studies on helioplex and found that it effectively absorbed sun rays between 290 nm – 400 nm, which are UVA. There are two new organic compounds that claim to be broad spectrum and photostable UV protection. Are you ready? Here we go – terephtralylidene dicomphor sulfonic acid and bis-ethyl hexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine. Wow! What a mouthful!

There are three trends in sunblock :

1. To promote physical blocks to the suns rays. There are inert substances such as zinc oxide and titanium oxide. I’m sure you all have been tot the beach and seen someone walking the beach with a ‘white’ nose. This is usually zinc oxide ointment. Looking great! Through new micro-technology, they can put it in sunscreens that are transparent.
2. Another new trend is to add antioxidants to sunscreen.
3. The other trend is to develop sunscreens that go on easier. These new products are dry feel, not sticky, oily-film like.

In short, select a sunscreen that is broad spectrum, has SPF of 30-35 and is waterproof. Go for it!