MDNews - San Antonio

SUNSCREEN VS. VITAMIN D With an increasing number of Americans becoming vitamin Wallace. "They only seek and destroy abnormal cells, which typically presents positive cosmetic outcomes. However, because topicals are self-applied, some patients find them to be too labor intensive or easy to forget. PDT, on the other hand, is medically applied during an office visit." Photodynamic Therapy Particularly useful for actinic keratoses on the scalp and face, PDT involves applying topical 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) to the area being treated. The medicated area is then exposed to a blue light that emits a specific wavelength, causing the abnormal cells to undergo a photosensitizing reaction, selectively destroying the actinic keratoses. Similar to sunburn, the skin eventually peels, removing the destroyed actinic keratoses with it. PDT has been used in special acne cases as well. Chemical peeling has also been shown to remove some actinic keratoses on the face when used in conjunction with trichloroacetic acid (TCA). Applied directly to the skin, TCA sloughs off the top layers and requires local anesthesia. It should be noted that none of the procedures are "cure-all" methods of treating cellular changes resulting from sun damage, but are instead excellent treatments to help avoid surgeries. The Power of Education "As the baby boomer population continues to grow older, we're consistently seeing more cases of skin cancer or preskin cancer," says Mobolaji Opeola, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Dermatologist Associates of San Antonio (DermSA) in San Antonio, TX. "I think the recent rise in the detection of skin cancer is a major contributor to precancerous or cancerous skin D deficient, there have been swirls of controversy over whether sunscreen containing both UVA and UVB protection is blocking the body's intake of vitamin D3. Developers at Ocean Potion — a popular drugstore sunscreen brand — have produced a line of sunscreen products that are actually fortified with absorbent vitamin D. Although many experts agree that further research and development may be necessary, the product currently has the Skin Cancer Foundation's stamp of approval. "This is really exciting for the field of dermatology," says Terrell R. Wallace, Jr., PA-C, USAF-RET, of Houston Lake Dermatology and Surgery Center in Warner Robins, GA. "It's imperative that people protect their skin from the sun's harmful effects year-round, and medical professionals practicing dermatology want to make that as convenient as possible." lesions being found earlier and more frequently. Patients are more cautious and self-aware thanks to an increase in public education on skin cancer and sun safety." Dr. Opeola also acknowledges that primary care physicians have contributed to the number of early detections by incorporat- ing questions and skin examinations into physical exams and gathering family histories of skin cancer. "Just as self-breast examinations are important, skin exams are imperative, too," says Dr. Opeola. "Encourage your patients to perform their own skin examinations and report any changes or suspicions. Also, refer patients to a dermatologist sooner rather than later. The technological advances and approaches made recently in the areas of prevention, detection and early treatments are phenomenal. Dermatologists have more options to help patients with precancerous and cancerous skin lesions than ever before." n THE WORLD OF COSMETIC TOUCHUPS MANY DERMATOLOGY PRACTICES incorpo- rate cosmetic medical services. Enhanced development of fractionated resurfacing laser therapies now offer patients longer- lasting results with minimal downtime to help significantly reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. With utilization capabilities for all pigment types, today's fractionated resurfacing lasers employ microbeams that remove columns of tissue layers deep into the skin. The body's healing process stimulates new collagen growth, which improves the appearance of wrinkles, scars and fine lines. Upper layers of skin can also be treated to remove superfluous pigmentation, promote new skin regeneration, and improve texture and tone. Newer lasers offer spot-size treatments for faster, less painful treatment of more areas simultaneously. Permanent filler agents have seen improvements as well. Newer products more effectively fill and reduce the appearance of deep lines in the face, and they also last significantly longer. Traditional fillers typically lasted a few months to a year, whereas contemporary filler products can last up to three years following the first treatment. "Dermatology is constantly changing and developing, and newer, better products are coming out every day," says Mobolaji Opeola, M.D., board-certified dermatolo- gist at Dermatologist Associates of San Antonio (DermSA) in San Antonio, TX. "The cosmetic procedures and methods we're able to offer patients today are truly unbe- lievable. The outcomes of age-reversing techniques have never looked better." MDNEWS.COM MD NEWS San Antonio | 21

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