Blogs | Page 2 of 15 | Skin and Cancer Associates

What Is Solar Elastosis and How Is It Treated?

Also known as actinic elastosis, solar elastosis is a skin condition caused by years of accumulated sun exposure. It literally means “damage to skin elasticity from sun exposure.” More commonly, we refer to this as “sun damage” or “photoaging.” Although not a medical concern itself, solar elastosis may be an indication that a patient is at a higher risk of skin cancer, due to his or her history of sun exposure. However, with a proper diagnosis and treatment, this condition can be improved.

What Is Solar Elastosis?

Solar elastosis is characterized by thick, yellowed skin that sometimes appears furrowed, creased, or bumpy. It is seen in people who have experienced long-term sun exposure over many years and is a type of photoaging. The sun’s UV rays break down the collagen and elastic fibers in your skin, causing the skin to lose its strength, flexibility and structural support. Because it is primarily caused by UV damage, solar elastosis is most commonly seen on areas of the body that are exposed to the sun, such as the face, neck, and arms.

In some cases, this condition may also be caused by smoking, as tobacco can have similar negative effects on the skin as UV rays, damaging collagen and elastin fibers.

Is Solar Elastosis Preventable?

Yes, solar elastosis is easily prevented by practicing good sun protection habits. However, if you are already seeing signs of this condition or other signs of skin aging, then seeking the proper treatment will be your best option. While you can’t undo the sun damage that has already occurred, you can still adopt the right skincare regimen and healthy lifestyle habits to prevent future signs of sun damage and aging from showing up on your skin – it is never too late to start taking great care of your skin!

For more help choosing a sunscreen that is right for your skin, you can read this blog about sunscreen basics. My general advice is to try to find a physical sunscreen that you like. Learn more about sunscreen basics here. These products contain the minerals zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide, rather than chemical ingredients. Therefore, physical sunscreens are generally better tolerated for most skin types, even those with sensitive skin.

Because those with solar elastosis may be at an increased risk for skin cancer, it is important to perform regular self-exams of your skin, as well as schedule annually or biannually checkups.

How Is Solar Elastosis Treated?

If you are seeing signs of solar elastosis on your skin, fractional laser treatments may be the most effective solution. CO2RE laser resurfacing effectively treats sun damage, uneven pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles, and other signs of aging skin. The VBeam vascular laser may also be used to address irregular pigmentation of the skin caused by the sun.

In addition to in-office treatments, following the proper skincare regimen for your skin type is crucial to getting and maintaining healthy skin. Anti-aging skincare ingredients such as retinoids, antioxidants, growth factors, heparan sulfate, and defensin can help to improve lines, wrinkles, and age spots as well.

In Summary

The sun is one of the largest contributors to aging skin. While prevention is ideal, conditions like solar elastosis can be treated with a combination of in-office laser treatments, the proper skincare regimen for your skin type, and sun protection habits like wearing SPF daily and avoiding deliberate tanning.

If you have more questions about what solar elastosis is or would like information on how it is diagnosed and treated, please contact us online or give our Miami office a call at 305-532-5552. You can also sign up for our newsletter by visiting www.derm.net, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Do You Know How to Perform a Self-Exam for Skin Cancer?

Early detection is crucial when it comes to treating melanoma and other skin cancers, but many people do not know what to look for. Use this guide to learn how to perform a self-exam at home and what signs to look for.

Steps to Perform a Self-Exam

For most people, scanning your skin for anything out of the ordinary about once a month is sufficient. However, if you are at a higher risk for skin cancer or have lots of moles, you may want to check your skin more frequently. When doing your self-exam, follow these basic steps:

Start with your face, including hard-to-see areas like the tips of your ears, your hairline, and lips.
Move onto your scalp. You will most likely need to use a handheld mirror, in addition to the one you’re standing in front of to be able to do this step. You may need to ask a spouse or other family member to help with this step. You can use a blow dryer on the “cool” setting to help blow your hair out of the way as you check. If you go to a hair salon- ask your stylist to look for any discolorations on your scalp.
Check your hands, wrists, and forearms. Be sure to check both the backs and palms of your hands, as well as between your fingers and under your fingernails.
Use a full-length mirror to check the rest of your arms, not forgetting the back of your arms and underarms.
Check the rest of the front of your body in the mirror, including your neck, chest, abdomen, and legs.
If you can hold a mirror in front of a full length mirror- turn around and examine your back, buttocks, and the backs of your legs. Or- ask a spouse or friend to check your skin. If you get massages- ask your masseuse to tell you if they see any suspicious looking dark moles. I have had several patients come in with skin cancers that were noticed by their massage therapists.
Examine your feet, both the tops and the soles, and checking between toes and under toenails.

What Are Early Signs of Skin Cancer?

When scanning your body for moles and other spots, you want to look for the “ABCDEs of melanoma.” These are:

Asymmetry. Do both sides of the mole look alike, or are there differences from one side to the other?

Borders that are irregular. Look for any non-uniform borders or those that are poorly defined.

Color that is varied and non-uniform. Most normal moles are one solid color. Pre-cancers and cancers may be varied in color and can include shades of brown, black, white, red, or even blue.

Diameter larger than the size of a pencil eraser. While melanomas can be much smaller than this, this is the size that they typically are when diagnosed.

Evolution or change. If you notice that a mole looks different every time you perform your self-exam for skin cancer, it may be a melanoma.

It is good practice to keep a mole map for these checks, where you fill in the spots where you have moles, especially those ones that you’d like to keep an eye on. This makes it easier to detect any changes or new spots. I recommend taking photos or any moles and putting them in their own file on your phone for easy access. That way you can refer back to them if you are wondering if a mole has changed.

In Summary

Schedule a yearly check-up with your dermatologist once a year if you do not have any risk factors for skin cancer. If your parents or siblings have had skin cancer, you should get checked at least every 6 months. In between visits, perform these self-checks every month to detect any changes. If you notice any of the above ABCDEs, contact us to schedule an appointment. It is better to be on the safe side – even if the spot turns out to be nothing – than to take the chance of letting a possible melanoma go undiagnosed.

If you’d like to stay in-the-know about the latest skin care news and advice from Dr. Baumann, don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Argan Oil Benefits for Rosacea

Argan oil has long been used for its beauty and health benefits, although there is still limited but promising research regarding its use for the skin. What we do know about pure argan oil is that it is an excellent source of many beneficial nutrients like vitamin E and omega fatty acids, making it a gentle, yet effective ingredient for many skin types, including sensitive skin and rosacea.

What Is Argan Oil?

Derived from the kernels of the Moroccan-native Argania spinosa tree, argan oil is believed to possess a number of qualities that make it a promising skin care ingredient. It is believed to help with acne, oily skin, dry skin, signs of aging, and wound healing.

Pure argan oil – dubbed “liquid gold” – has also historically been used as an ingestible ingredient as a treatment for heart disease, joint pain, and even infertility.

Learn more about Argan Oil

How Does Argan Oil Benefit Sensitive Skin?

Argan oil contains a variety of nutrients that are known to be beneficial to the skin, particularly when managing sensitive skin types like rosacea.

Omega fatty acids comprise the majority of this rare oil. Rich in both omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, argan oil possesses strong anti-inflammatory and moisturizing qualities – both of which are critical for managing rosacea. In particular, linoleic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid, helps to control inflammation. Omega-9 fatty acids like oleic acid are also known to help increase the permeability of other topical ingredients, making other skin treatments more effective.

Additionally, argan oil contains high concentrations of vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. Vitamin E plays an important role in free radical protection, particularly those formed through sun damage. This powerful vitamin may also have anti-aging benefits, although other vitamin E formulations may not be well-tolerated by rosacea patients. Argan oil, on the other hand, is gentle on even sensitive skin types.

Where to Find Argan Oil

You can find argan oil both online or at your local drug store. Just make sure that it is 100% pure argan oil. You also need to make sure that it is packaged and stored properly, as argan oil is known to lose its effectiveness when stored at high temperatures.

Note that the Argania spinosa tree is very slow-growing and the process through which the oil is extracted from the kernels is very time-consuming. For these reasons, argan oil is still considered to be relatively rare, which makes it on the pricier side.

I personally like PAORR 100% Organic Moroccan Argan Oil, which you can buy online for under $30 through the STS store using a physician code.

Bottom Line

Preliminary research shows promising evidence that argan oil could be very beneficial for the skin and hair. Its high concentration of omega fatty acids and vitamin E could help to calm the skin and reduce redness caused by inflammation, as is the case with rosacea and other inflammatory skin problems like acne and eczema.

If you have specific questions about your skin care routine for managing rosacea, feel free to contact our team at Baumann Cosmetic online, or call our Miami office at 305-532-5552.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube to stay up-to-date on the latest rosacea research and treatment breakthroughs, plus sign up for our newsletter by emailing info@derm.net.

Anti-Aging Skin Care Advice for Rosacea Patients

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If you have rosacea, using anti-aging skin care products can be a challenge, since they often cause redness or stinging for sensitive skin types. While you do need to take extra care to soothe and calm your skin, the good news is that you can use various anti-aging products to help keep lines, wrinkles, and dark spots at bay. Here are my top four product recommendations to help with anti-aging for rosacea sufferers.

1. Mineral-Based Sunscreen

Keeping your skin protected from the sun is crucial, especially if you have rosacea. Not only does sun exposure accelerate signs of skin aging, but it can also make rosacea symptoms worse. However, many rosacea patients cannot tolerate chemical sunscreens that are absorbed into the skin. Instead, try a mineral-based sunscreen like Elta MD Physical.

This sunscreen contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to create a physical barrier between your skin and the sun’s UV rays. It is generally well-tolerated for all Baumann Skin Types, including sensitive skin. In fact, Physician Assistant Ilanit Samuels says Elta MD is one of the only sunscreens that many of her acne patients can use without breaking out.

2. DefenAge

DefenAge is a relatively new anti-aging product that contains peptides called defensins. Defensins are responsible for, among other things, stimulating specific stems cells in hair follicles called LGR6+. When LGR6+ stem cells are stimulated, they begin the wound healing process and generate new cells. Most other anti-aging products that have been on the market for decades work by triggering old cells to produce components like collagen or growth factors. Defensins work by stimulating existing stem cells to make new skin cells altogether.

3. Sente

Sente is another line of breakthrough anti-aging products, and it contains an exciting ingredient called heparan sulfate. Heparan sulfate is a naturally-occuring glycosaminoglycan (GAG) that, like hyaluronic acid, is able to bind to and retain large amounts of water. But new evidence has shown that this ingredient may also be able to help cells “hear” messages from growth factors and cytokines in order to start producing more collagen and other key components of the skin.

As cells age, they do not hear these signals as well, which could play a role in the gradual decrease of collagen production with age. Heparan sulfate binds to growth factors and makes sure that they bind to the proper receptor to send the message to make more collagen.

4. Retinoids

Retinoids can cause redness, stinging, and other signs of irritation in sensitive skin types if not used properly. However, you can still use these beneficial anti-aging ingredients with rosacea, but wean them into your routine slowly and use with a soothing anti-inflammatory moisturizer like Zerafite Soothing and Calming Moisturizer. This moisturizer will also help to strengthen your skin’s protective barrier to keep water sealed inside and bacteria and other harmful particles locked out.

When introducing a retinoid into your skin care routine, follow these general steps:

Wash your face with the proper cleanser, based on your Baumann Skin Type. People with rosacea should avoid foaming cleansers and toners.
Dilute the retinoid with your calming facial moisturizer. You can start by mixing equal parts retinoid and moisturizer and see how your skin tolerates this.
Apply a pea-sized amount of the retinoid mixture to dry skin. Retinoids can be more readily absorbed if applied to wet skin, which can increase the risk of side effects.
Apply in the evening every third night. Some people may be able to tolerate moving up to every-other-night applications.

Bottom Line

If you have rosacea, you will need to take extra care to avoid irritation and redness when using anti-aging products. Introduce them to your skin slowly and combine with a soothing anti-inflammatory moisturizer to help reduce side effects and strengthen the skin barrier. It is also best to try to limit the number of products in your routine, so find which ones work best for you and choose a few staple products designed for your Baumann Skin Type that your skin tolerates well.

If you’re searching for in-office anti-aging treatments for rosacea, contact our Miami office online or call us at 305-532-5552 to schedule an appointment.

For more skin care tips, advice, and how-to videos from Dr. Baumann, don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

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Does Aromatherapy Really Reduce Stress?

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Aromatherapy and essential oils have long been touted for their many different medicinal and therapeutic properties. In today’s busy, fast-paced world, aromatherapy has become a popular tool to help reduce stress and anxiety — two problems that, when chronic and left unmanaged, can wreak havoc on your body, health, and skin. More research is being done to study the effects of various scents and oils on mental health, and so far, there is promising evidence that aromatherapy can effectively reduce stress and anxiety.

How Stress Affects Your Skin

Chronic, persistent stress negatively affects your skin and entire body because it triggers your brain to release stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol performs many different functions throughout your body, including binding to receptors that stimulate your body’s inflammatory response system. Cortisol also raises the glucose (sugar) levels in your bloodstream. When under acute, or short-term stress, these effects can beneficial to help you in a “fight or flight” situation. Over a long period of time, however, inflammation and excess sugar can cause acne, wrinkles, and rosacea flare-ups, as well as health problems like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Which Scents Are the Best for Stress?

Research has shown that stress reduction could make your skin clearer, especially if you suffer from inflammatory skin conditions like acne, eczema, or rosacea. One way to reduce stress and anxiety is by using aromatherapy to help your body relax. In a 2011 study, we monitored a group of 30 people who had never had BOTOX® injections before. Half of the group was randomly chosen to be exposed to lavender essential oil prior to treatment, and the other half was treated with a placebo. While the perception of pain remained the same in both groups, the lavender oil patients had a significantly lower heart rate after injections than the placebo group, demonstrating that lavender oil can help to ease stress and anxiety.

Passion flower essential oil has also been used as natural anti-anxiety remedy by many different cultures, although more research is needed to determine its potential stress-relieving benefits.

Other essential oils that may help with stress and anxiety include:

Lemon balm
Chamomile
Bergamot
Ylang Ylang

How Do You Use Essential Oils for Stress?

You can apply essential oils topically to your skin in various locations, known as “trigger points,” or you can use them in an oil diffuser to fill the air in your home or office with the scents. To apply topically, dab a small amount of the oil on your wrists, neck, temples, or beneath your nose. Some people like to add a few drops of essential oils to the shower or bath, but keep in mind that some essential oils may irritate sensitive skin. If this is the case for you, use a diffuser instead of applying the oils directly to your skin.

In Summary

Aromatherapy can be a useful tool to alleviate stress and anxiety that could otherwise cause a number of skin and health problems. Other lifestyle changes such as healthy eating, regular exercise, and getting enough sleep can also have a profound impact on stress, your complexion, and your overall well-being.

For more skin care science and advice from Dr. Leslie Baumann, follow Baumann Cosmetic Dermatology on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You can also sign up for our newsletter by visiting www.derm.net or sending an email to info@derm.net.

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Lanadelumab Does Not Increase Cardiovascular Risk in Hereditary Angioedema

February 27, 2019

This article originally appeared here.

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Only 1 patient who received lanadelumab 150 mg every 4 weeks reported a treatment-emergent adverse event.

SAN FRANCISCO — Patients with hereditary angioedema did not demonstrate higher cardiovascular risk when treated with lanadelumab compared with placebo, according to research presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting 2019, held February 22-25, 2019, in San Francisco, California.

Researchers sought to examine the effect of lanadelumab in reducing active plasma kallikrein, an important enzyme in regulating blood pressure, in patients with type I or type II hereditary angioedema in an analysis of the phase 3 HELP study (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02586805)

The study sample included 125 patients with hereditary angioedema who were ≥12 years old and who had reported ≥1 hereditary angioedema attacks during a 4-week run-in period. During the course of 26 weeks, the participants received either lanadelumab (n=84) 300 mg every 2 weeks, 300 mg every 4 weeks, or 150 mg every 4 weeks, or placebo (n=41). The patients were not permitted to use angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors during the study.

Of the patients who received lanadelumab doses, 78 (92.8%) completed the study, and 35 (85.4%) patients who received placebo completed the study. Twelve (14.3%) patients in the lanadelumab groups had a history of hypertension at baseline vs 6 (14.6%) patients in the placebo group had a history of hypertension. Over 26 weeks, blood pressure remained stable in the lanadelumab group; however, diastolic blood pressure slightly decreased in the placebo group compared with the lanadelumab groups (–3.17 mm Hg vs 1.34 mm Hg; P =.002). Neither group reported increased use of anti-hypertensive medications nor did the investigators observe any significant electrocardiographic abnormalities. Only 1 patient who received lanadelumab 150mg every 4 weeks reported a treatment-emergent adverse event in which the patient’s blood pressure increased to 124/91 mm Hg.

The investigators suggested that lanadelumab used to treat patients with hereditary angioedema was not associated with an increased risk of hypertension or electrocardiographic abnormalities.

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Reference

Sexton DJ, Brown NJ, Lumry WR, et al. Lanadelumab and cardiovascular risk: findings from the phase 3 HELP Study. Presented at: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting 2019; February 22-25, 2019; San Francisco, CA. Abstract 136.

IncobotulinumtoxinA Less Likely to Induce Immune Response vs Other Botulinum Formulations

February 27, 2019

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Researchers conducted a review of various botulinum neurotoxin type A formulations.

IncobotulinumtoxinA offers an advantage over other botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT-A) formulations because it is less likely to induce an immune response when used clinically. A review of various BoNT products was conducted and results were published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.

In 2017, aesthetic dermatologic applications of BoNT formulations, including for treatment of horizontal forehead lines, glabellar lines, and crow’s feet, were the most common nonsurgical cosmetic procedures performed in the United States, with high levels of patient satisfaction reported. Since the first BoNT-A product was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1989, the number of formulations available worldwide has increased, with new approvals anticipated.

It is well known that BoNT is produced by Clostridium botulinum as part of a large protein complex. The unnecessary clostridial proteins do not play a role in clinical applications. Data have demonstrated that BoNT administration can elicit an immune response, leading to the production of neutralizing antibodies that can be related to treatment nonresponse or reduced efficacy. With repeated treatments needed to maintain effectiveness, clinicians must be aware of the potential for antibody development and thus select a BoNT with the lowest risk for immunogenicity.

IncobotulinumtoxinA is purified and manufactured precisely using advanced technology and good manufacturing practice. The unnecessary clostridial proteins are removed using stepwise chromatography to isolate the pure BoNT accurately without any unnecessary clostridial proteins, resulting in high specific activity and low immunogenicity. Clinical studies of incobotulinumtoxinA have shown that participants who had never previously received BoNT did not have neutralizing antibodies or secondary nonresponse to incobotulinumtoxinA therapy.

The investigators concluded that the unique and precise purification of incobotulinumtoxinA represents innovative advances in the BoNT manufacturing process. Currently, incobotulinumtoxinA is the only BoNT formulation in commercial markets across the world that was designed intentionally to contain only the required therapeutic BoNT component.

“The data reviewed here suggest incobotulinumtoxinA offers an advantage over other BoNT-A formulations due to its lower potential to provoke an immune response when used clinically,” the researchers concluded.

Disclosures: Dr Kerscher reports relationships with Galderma/Q-Med, Ipsen, and MErz Pharmaceuticals GmbG. Dr Trindade de Almeida reports relationships with Allergan, Galderma/Q-Med, Lupin, Mantecorp, Merz Pharmaceuticals, and Sinclair. Drs Maas and Frevert report relationships with Merz Pharmaceuticals GmbH.

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Reference

Kerscher M, Wanitphakdeedecha R, Trindada de Almeida AT, Mass C, Frevert J. IncobotulinumtoxinA: a highly purified and precisely manufactured botulinum neurotoxin type A. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019;18(1):52-57.

Gestational and Delivery Variables Linked With Dermatitis, Food Allergy Profiles

February 27, 2019

This article originally appeared here.

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A C-section was associated with both milk allergy and gastroesophageal reflux disease.

SAN FRANCISCO — Gestational duration and Cesarean sections (C-section) were associated with comorbid atopic dermatitis and food allergies in children, respectively, according to research presented at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting, held February 22-25, 2019, in San Francisco, California.

Researchers analyzed the link between gestational factors and delivery variables and food allergen profiles and food allergy-related comorbidities. Data on 195 children with food allergies were collected using questionnaires about demographics, duration of pregnancy, mode of delivery, age of food allergy onset, and types of food allergies.

A shorter duration of pregnancy was significantly associated with atopic dermatitis (P =.01). Children with atopic dermatitis had a mean gestational age of 37.5 weeks (SD±3.6 weeks) and children without atopic dermatitis had a mean gestational age of 38.2 weeks (SD±2.8 weeks). A C-section was associated with both milk allergy (P =.04) and gastroesophageal reflux disease (P =.001). In children with a milk allergy, 26.8% were delivered by C-section vs 19.6% without a milk allergy and, 25.4% of the children with gastroesophageal reflux disease were also delivered by C-section.

Further research is needed to determine whether gestational factors and delivery variables affect the food allergy profile and atopic dermatitis, or whether there is an underlying cause that affects gestation time and delivery mode as well as a predisposition to food allergies in these children.

The researchers concluded that “C-section was associated with milk allergy and [gastroesophageal reflux disease], while duration of pregnancy was linked to comorbid [atopic dermatitis].”

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Reference

Andy-Nweye AB, Jois SK, Jungles KN, Tobin MC, Mahdavinia M. Mode of delivery and duration of pregnancy is associated with allergy to milk and atopic dermatitis in children. Presented at: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Annual Meeting 2019; February 22-25, 2019; San Francisco, CA. Abstract 433.

Race, Dermatologist Density Affect Melanoma Survival Rates

February 26, 2019

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Factors positively associated with MIR included dermatologist density, percent of the population that is non-Hispanic white, and average household income.

States with a higher count of total physicians per capita and a larger percentage of non-Hispanic whites have worse survival rates for melanoma, while more dermatologists per capita and more National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers (NCIDCCs) appear to be correlated with improved melanoma survival, , according to a study published in Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The current study was designed to evaluate possible healthcare-based and sociodemographic predictors of melanoma survival differences in the United States using the melanoma mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR). United States Cancer Statistics data from 1999 to 2014 were used to calculate state-based MIRs, and linear regressions and Pearson correlations were used to identify associations between MIRs and primary care provider density, dermatologist density, number of physicians by state, healthcare spending per capita, percentage of uninsured, number of National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Centers, racial/ethnic makeup of the population, average household income, and percentage with a bachelor’s degree.

The overall mean MIR was 0.15±0.04, with Alaska as an outlier at 0.24±0.03. MIR in most states decreased over time. Factors positively associated with MIR included dermatologist density (P <.001), percent of the population that is non-Hispanic white (P <.001), and average household income (P =.01). Factors that were negatively and significantly associated with MIR included primary care provider density (P =.001), number of physicians (P =.002), NCIDCCs per state (P =.02), healthcare spending per capita (P <.001), percent of population with a bachelor’s degree (P <.001), and percent of population that is Native Hawaiian/Other Islander (P <.001), Asian (P =.01), Native American/Native Alaskan (P =.01), and Black (P <.001).

No significant associations were seen between the percentage of uninsured and MIR. Only the percentage of the population that is non-Hispanic white (P =.004) and the number of active physicians (P =.02) remained significantly associated with MIR after multivariable regression analysis. Significant Pearson correlations were found between MIR and melanoma incidence (r=0.72, P <.001), dermatologist density (r=0.32, P <.001), NCIDCC count (r=-0.12, P =.001), and melanoma mortality (r=0.38, P <.001).

Limitations included reporting difficulties and database inaccuracies, limited data on melanoma thickness and staging, census-based demographic data, and lack of insight into intra-state disparities.

Study investigators concluded that, “states with more physicians (i.e., higher total physician count, not just dermatologists) per capita and a larger percentage of non-Hispanic whites had higher MIRs, or worse survival. We also found that intrinsic differences between states accounts for the vast majority of variance in MIR, suggesting the need for local evaluation and policy changes.”

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Reference

Hopkins ZH, Moreno C, Carlisle R, Secrest AM. Melanoma prognosis in the United States: identifying barriers for improved care [published online January 16, 2019]. J Am Acad Dermatol. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2019.01.003

Diluted Bleach Baths Ineffective as Antimicrobial Agent for Atopic Dermatitis

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