THE WOMEN’S HEALTH GROUP, P.C.

9195 Grant Street, Suite 410, Thornton, CO 80229

Phone: 303-280-2229 (BABY)

300 Exempla Circle, Suite 470, Lafayette, CO 80026

Phone: 303-665-6016

www.whg-pc.com

SHINE A RAY OF LIGHT ON HEALTHY SKIN

Skin cancer is the most common form of skin cancer in the United States.  More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed annually.  One or more blistering sunburns in childhood or adolescence can more than double the risk of developing melanoma later in life.

Once the damage is done, what do you do?  Innovative Aesthetics provided some tips on anti-aging and general skin care.

Overexposure to the sun’s dangerous ultraviolet (UV) light can lead to skin cancer and precancers like actinic keratoses (AK’s).  Since sun damage accumulates over time, it’s never too late to start a sun protection regimen.

Although most people know to wear sunscreen when the sun is beating down, “protecting your skin from the sun does not end with the summer months,” says Deborah S. Sarnoff, M.D. a New York City dermatologist and educational spokesperson for The Skin Cancer Foundation.  “By carefully practicing sun protection year-round, you can prevent further sun damage and may even reverse some of the damage already done.

To help or even reverse sun damage to the skin:

1. Use sunscreen with SPF of 15 or higher.  Sunscreen is one of the keys to radiant, youthful-looking skin.  Daily use may even lower your long-term risk of skin cancer.  By reducing your daily sun exposure, sunscreen allows your skin time to heal and your immune system the chance to repair existing damage.

2. Exfoliate.  The buildup of stratum corneum (the dead, outermost skin cell layer) can make skin appear blotchy and uneven.  Also, remnants of self-tanning products can collect in typically dry areas (such as the elbows), causing the skin to lose its luster and appear ‘dirty’.  Loofahs, scrubs, alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) cleansers, and microdermabrasion skin care treatments can remove the buildup of that outer layer.

3. Bleach the brown spots.  Skin lightener does not actually make the skin white; it simply helps to lighten accumulations of unwanted color.  We recommend using a product that contains kojic acid in combination with hydroquinone, Retin-A®, topical vitamin C, and a mild steroid cream, which is useful for stubborn brown spots and blotchy brown discoloration.

4. Hydrate.  Summer exposure to sun, chlorine, and salt water can dry out your skin-even the heels of your feet can be affected.  Try a hand and body cream, and for the heels, a moisturizing foot cream.  A moisturizer with AHA or facial serum with hyaluronic acid can plump up dry skin around the eyes, making skin instantly appear less wrinkled.  Continued use may help stimulate the production of new collagen, a protein that helps give skin its texture and appearance.

5.  Light-emitting diode (LED).  Light-emitting diodes (LED’s) are electronic light sources.  We recommend a low energy LED which can help promote collagen production, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, and improve acne.

6. Professional laser treatments.  Professional laser treatments can improve everything from blotchiness and discoloration to wrinkles.  Photodynamic therapy-laser or intense pulsed light (IPL) in combination with a topical solution known as Levulan® (aminolevulinic acid) can remove scaly patches of actinic keratosis from your skin.

Protect and prevent further damage while having fun in the sun!

For more information on skin care, visit Innovative Aesthetics at www.innovativeaestheticscolorado.com.

All facts provided by The Skin Cancer Foundation, courtesy Innovative Aesthetics