Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic

Practice Safe Sun

Enjoy More Attractive, Healthier Skin

A discussion with Louis Hill, M.D. of Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic and Armand Cognetta, Jr., M.D. of Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee

 

What woman hasn't fantasized about looking like Nicole Kidman with her creamy, porcelain goddess style? We profess to love her pale unlined beauty, well, that is until the first warm days bring the promise of shorts and swimsuits.. Then many of us are guilty of reverting back to our old ways, baking ourselves in the sun until we reach that “medium to well-done” shade. Now is the perfect time to rethink your strategy for summertime activities and tanning.

 

May is Melanoma/Skin Cancer Prevention and Detection Month. Florida Health took the opportunity to discuss the topic of practicing safe sun with two well respected physicians who have treated area patients for over 20-years, Dr. Louis Hill, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon with Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic and Dr. Armand Cognetta, Jr., a dermatologist with Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee. The physician teams at both practices work together in the removal of skin cancers using the highly effective Moh's technique and the reconstruction that follows.

 

Florida Health :

Dr. Hill, as a plastic and reconstructive surgeon who sees people of all ages with all types of skin, what can you share with our readers about protecting their skin from aging and skin cancer?

 

Dr. Lou Hill:

In our society, many people are concerned about improving their appearance, reversing the signs of aging and avoiding cancer. Ironically, exposure to the sun's UVA and UVB rays is a significant (and preventable) cause of prematurely aging skin and is a leading cause of skin cancer. Skin cancer affects one in five Americans. Living in Florida , many people spend a great deal of time outdoors wearing fewer clothes and exposing themselves regularly to a cancer that is 80 percent preventable by simply limiting exposure to the sun and always wearing protection.

At Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic and Dermatology Associates of Tallahassee we help many individuals, through non-surgical and surgical procedures, who want to enhance and rejuvenate their appearance as they age. In addition, we offer a complete line of services in our physician-supervised skincare clinics to help improve environmentally damaged skin. We also coordinate efforts with Dermatology Associates to remove skin cancers and repair or reconstruct the defects..

 

Florida Health:

Is summertime the only time we need to be concerned about sun damage?

 

Dr. Armand Cognetta:

No, it's important to remember that the sun affects your skin all year long, not just during the summer. In fact, according the American Cancer Society (ACS) cancer of the skin (including melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer) is the most common of all cancers, accounting for about half of all cancers. The ACS `estimates more than 1 million new cases of highly curable nonmelanoma basal and squamous cell cancers will be diagnosed this year. ( www.cancer.org ). Men are twice as likely as women to have basal cell cancers and three times as likely to have squamous cell cancers of the skin. The good news is that detected and treated early, skin cancer has a 95 percent cure rate.

That's why the standard mantra today among physicians, as well as most publications such as Florida Health, is to wear sunscreen (with a minimum SPF 15) daily and protect yourself from the sun. Many make-up foundations now include a protective SPF 15 factor and we encourage our patients and skincare clients to use these year-round. Those who desire a tan can achieve the look safely with one of the many improved self-tanning products. However, these do not protect the skin from burning, so don't forget the sunscreen.

 

Florida Health :

What kind of skin damage does the sun cause?

 

Dr. Lou Hill:

The immediate results of unprotected exposure to UV rays are sunburn and tanning. While our society has long thought of both as attractive, both are actually signs of skin damage. Their effects may not be apparent immediately, but sunburn and tanning causes severe and long-lasting effects.

 

Photo aging, aging of the skin caused by the sun and/or tanning machines, is the cause of a significant percentage of the symptoms of prematurely aging skin and its effects can be seen as early as in your 20's. Long-term exposure to the sun's UV rays causes wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, dark patches, and several types of skin cancer including the risk of cataracts and certain other eye problems including ocular and eyelid cancer.

 

Florida Health :

How can we protect ourselves from sun damage?

 

Dr. Armand Cognetta:

I hope your readers will consider protecting their skin before heading down to the beach or doing any other outdoor activities that pose the risk of prolonged sun exposure. It is important to instill good habits in children so they grow up understanding the importance of protecting and caring for their skin. I encourage everyone to reconsider their wardrobe, slather on plenty of sun screen and SPF protective lip balm. Always wear sunglasses to protect the eyes and the delicate area surrounding them. The ACS recommends wraparound sunglasses with a 99 % to 100% UVA and UVB absorption for the best protection .

 

Avoid prolonged direct exposure to the sun. I can't stress that enough. Limit direct sun exposure between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and be sure to wear a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses. Trade your thin and translucent materials such as bleached cotton for fabrics that are tightly knit. UV-protective clothing, which is woven from special fabric with a broad-spectrum SPF of over 30, is also available. This is ideal for those who fish, golf, and hike year-round. The popularity of tanning beds presents a major danger to young people especially since it enables people to tan year-round and increases the risk of skin cancer.

 

It is also important to schedule an annual full-body skin exam with your primary care doctor or dermatologist and consider a physician-supervised skin care regimen to help maintain and repair your skin.

 

Florida Health:

What options are available for repairing skin damage?

 

Dr. Lou Hill:

It's just as important to repair previous damage to your skin as it is to prevent future damage. There are many options available for individuals who want to improve their skin's health, regardless of age. The cosmetics industry is a multi-billion dollar business that sells a great deal of “false hopes”. It's important for women, and men, to be educated and realistic in their expectations. We recommend considering a physician-supervised skincare program, or at least, speak with your physician about your skin and effective products..

 

While some of the sun's damage is irreversible, physician assisted treatments such as Botox® injections and Restylane® can soften facial lines and wrinkles caused by sun damage. Physician-supervised skin care programs, such as BioMedic® may also improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. The SkinCeuticals system includes powerful antioxidants that reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles caused by sun damage and prevent premature signs of aging. This system includes products that even have the ability to prevent skin-cell mutations that are associated with the formation of skin cancer. Acid, laser, and chemical peels are other options to smooth out lines and wrinkles and generally resurface the face. These treatments are all available at Tallahassee Plastic Surgery Clinic.

 

As of now, covering up and always practicing safe sun is still the best way to maintain your skin for life.