Skin Cancer
What Is the Link Between Sun Exposure and Melano…
Scientists have recognized a link between sun exposure and melanoma for at least a century (Cancer Epidemiology, June 2017). On the other hand, the relationship is not quite straightforward. Back in t…
Angry Doctor Insists HCTZ Is Safe!
Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) is one of the most prescribed drugs in the US. It is a diuretic that helps lower blood pressure. At last count, over 10 million people swallow this pill daily. But HCTZ is a…
Does Sunscreen Prevent Skin Cancer? Dermatologis…
Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go. We are strongly in favor of safe and effective sunscreens. As kids we experienced too many sunburns. That’s because back then there weren’t any prod…
How Can You Choose A Safe Sunscreen?
When you slather sunscreen on your skin, you expect it to protect you from damaging ultraviolet light while you are outside working or having fun. Most people assume that it should be easy to select a…
Hydrochlorothiazide Side Effects: Skin Cancer an…
You have been advised by the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology that if you have systolic blood pressure of 130 or higher and/or diastolic blood pressure of 80 or higher…
What Are the Risks of Sunscreen and Bug Repellen…
If you spend time outside in the summertime, you'll probably reach for the insect repellent. After all, you don't want to feed bloodsuckers like ticks or mosquitoes. In addition, sunscreen can keep yo…
Can You Find Non-Irritating Sunscreen?
Some things should be kept out of the eyes. If you get shampoo in your eyes while you are showering, you'll regret it. Even a hint of chile pepper essence is even worse. But many people find that suns…
JAMA Study Proves Sunscreens ARE Absorbed into B…
It’s a little early to talk about sunscreens, but a new study published in JAMA (Jan. 21, 2020) has confirmed that ingredients in sunscreens are absorbed into the body. Last May, FDA researche…
Will Castor Oil Help Clear Up Your Actinic Kerat…
Have you had a dermatologist examine the lumps and bumps on your skin? It is a good idea to have these checked periodically, especially if they have changed in any way. The doctor might diagnose some …
Can You Avoid Skin Damage Without Sunscreen?
It comes as a great shock to learn that sunscreen gets under your skin. Most people assume that what you put on your skin stays on your skin. Wrong! FDA researchers wrote in JAMA (May 6, 2019) t…
Can a Vitamin Really Help Prevent Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the most common type of malignancy in the US. Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans will be diagnosed with either basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma by the age of 65. (Mel…
Popular Blood Pressure Pill Linked to Skin Cance…
When bad news surfaces, some people have a hard time accepting it. When researchers uncovered a link between a popular blood pressure pill and non-melanoma skin cancer, we got this message from a skep…
Are You Addicted to Indoor Tanning?
Can indoor tanning be addicting? Most people think of tanning beds as a cosmetic indulgence. But new research suggests that some young women with depression find indoor tanning especially appealing (M…
How to Spot Melanoma Before It Causes Trouble
Most people have heard that melanoma is a very dangerous type of skin cancer. For years they have been advised to look for any moles that have changed color, shape or size. But it turns out that a lot…
Will Your Microbiome Save Your Life?
In recent years researchers have become extremely interested in the collection of microorganisms living in and on our bodies. This microbiome has a profound impact on our overall health. How Does the…
Do Sunscreens Really Prevent Skin Cancer?
The evidence that sunscreens prevent skin cancer may not be as strong as people would like to believe. That is the conclusion from a recent Cochrane review. What Did the Cochrane Review Find? The Coc…
Skin Drug Price Hikes Are Just the Tip of the Ic…
The price of prescription creams, gels and ointments has been soaring. A study published in JAMA Dermatology looked at the retail costs of dermatologic drugs in 2009, 2011, 2014 and 2015. What they fo…
Does Castor Oil Clear Actinic Keratosis?
Q. I thought you should know that years ago my husband's dermatologist told him to use castor oil on pre-cancerous spots on his face. They all just sort of fell off and he never had to have any remove…
Inexpensive B Vitamin Protects Against Common Sk…
Ask people about common cancers and most people name the big killers--cancer of the lung, colon and rectum, breast, prostate, pancreas, liver or blood. In truth, skin cancers are more common than any …
Broccoli Compound in Cream Protects Skin from Ul…
It is hardly news to hear that vegetables can help protect against cancer. But researchers at the University of Arizona have come up with an interesting new twist on this advice. Instead of warning pe…
Sun’s Benefits Outweigh Risks
Exposure to sunlight may help control blood pressure and reduce the risk of heart disease. Dermatologists have been warning us for years that sun exposure is dangerous because it increases the risk of…
Will Aspirin Prevent Melanoma?
Aspirin is not just for headaches any more. A new study suggests that women who take aspirin regularly are less likely to develop melanoma, a potentially life-threatening form of skin cancer. The stud…
Pain Relievers Lower Skin Cancer Risk
Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs reduce the risk of skin cancer. Danish researchers compared the painkiller history of more than 18,000 people with skin cancer to that of nearly 180,000 peopl…
Vitamin A May Offer Protection from Melanoma
Vitamin A supplements have gotten some bad press of late. Research has not demonstrated a benefit and there is even some concern that vitamin A supplementation may lead to weakened bones. New research…
Coffee Reduces Risk of Certain Skin Cancers
Coffee continues to get high marks for health benefits. Drinking coffee was once considered a vice, but researchers have reported that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing depression, type …
Beta Blockers Against Melanoma?
Beta blockers such as atenolol, metoprolol and propranolol have been used for decades to help control heart rhythm abnormalities and high blood pressure. A new study suggests that these inexpensive ge…
New Melanoma Drug Approved
A second drug for melanoma has just been approved by the FDA. The agency acted at least two months before it was expected to do so, and also approved a diagnostic test that allows doctors to tell if t…
Sunscreen Can Cut Risk of Melanoma
Dermatologists have been advocating for more consistent and conscientious sunscreen use for decades. They knew that this practice would reduce the risk of premature aging and some types of skin cancer…
New Drugs Fight Melanoma
Melanoma patients have reason for optimism. Studies of two new drugs were reported at the American Society of Clinical Oncology. In one study, people with an advanced form of this skin cancer were 63 …
How Does Caffeine Protect Against Skin Cancer?
Drinking coffee or tea may reduce the likelihood of developing non-melanoma skin cancer. Epidemiological studies have shown that coffee and tea drinkers have a lower incidence of basal and squamous ce…
Sunscreen Shortcomings Stir Controversy
Sunscreens have changed the way Americans play. There was a time when tennis players, golfers, swimmers and just about anyone else who needed to be outside was at the mercy of the sun’s rays.Peo…
Skin Doctors Turn Thumbs Down On Sun
Dermatologists hate the sun. There's a good reason for their loathing. They see the effects of excessive sun exposure-not just wrinkles, age spots and leathery skin, but also a variety of skin cancers…