Thu Feb 4, 2.00 am ET

Joshua Fox, M.D., medical director at Advanced Dermatology and founder of the New Age Skin Research Foundation, a non-profit health organization, conducted a study on 2,252 respondents. It consisted of a 24-question survey to assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards sun exposure, tanning and sunscreen usage.

New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) February 4, 2010 — The American Cancer Society reports that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer. With more than one million cases diagnosed annually, the incidences of skin cancers out number the combined incidences of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer in the United States.

Doctors Joshua Fox, MD and Rao Saladi, MD, of the New Age Skin Research Foundation, a non-profit health organization aiming to provide expert educational resources to the public and physicians, concluded that the most recent research on attitudes about sun protection and the behavior related to the proper use of sunscreen was unfortunately from studies focused primarily in Australia.

In order to gain an understanding of local points of view, the doctors conducted their own study and presented their findings in March of 2009, at the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) 67th Annual Meeting, held in San Francisco, California. These same findings were published in the March 2009 issue of The American Academy of Dermatology.

The study was conducted throughout Connecticut, New York and New Jersey and included 2,252 respondents. The study consisted of a 24-question survey. The survey was designed to assess the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors towards sun exposure, tanning and sunscreen usage. Demographic data on each subject’s age, sex, race, education and skin type were also collected. Surveys were conducted throughout the Tri-State area in four types of locations: public beaches (34.6% of respondents), public areas such as malls and parks (33.3% of respondents), at colleges (24.6% of respondents), and in dermatology offices (7.5% of respondents).

Dr. Fox and Dr. Saladi concluded that, “While many individuals are admittedly aware of the value of sunscreen as protection against the dangers of skin damage and skin cancer, they lack knowledge about the proper use of sunscreen.”

“One surprising finding”, said Dr. Fox, “was that while respondents in the beachgoer category had the highest instance of sunscreen usage, 42% using it regularly; the same group was among the highest percentage to use tanning salons.”

According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure. And, research indicates that people who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop Squamous Cell Carcinoma which kills about 2.5 billion people each year, and are 1.5 times more likely to develop Basal Cell Carcinoma. Doctors Fox and Saladi discovered that, regardless of the survey category, between 10% and 15% of respondents used tanning beds.

Other results from the survey showed that respondents from the public area category were split almost equally into thirds; one third used sunscreen regularly, one third used it occasionally, and one third reported non-use. Of the college campus respondents 38.9% of respondents reported almost daily use, while 39.23% said they never used sunscreen.

The dermatology office category respondents reported the highest daily usage of sunscreen at 56.90 percent. “We believe that it is because this group of respondents is likely to have had some experience with or concern about skin damage or cancer,” said Dr. Fox.

Dr. Saladi added, “it is also likely that as a result of their dermatology visits, this group would have had the highest degree of education and reinforcement regarding the proper use of sunscreen from their dermatologist and staff. Dr. Fox and I both believe that improving education and reinforcement can increase awareness and improve behavior, regardless of the geographic area.”

Education on the proper use of sunscreen should include how to select the right products, the proper application and reapplication of sunscreen, and the frequency and amount of its use.

Red Dots on Skin: 19 Causes, Some Serious
December 07, 2009 by Jillita Horton

Red dots on the skin usually don’t mean cancer - usually. But you should get acquainted with your skin and what is normal for it versus not normal, so that if you start seeing reddish dots, you’ll know whether to immediately see a doctor, or just relax and not worry.

I asked Joshua L. Fox, M.D., F.A.A.D., Director and Founding Physician of Advanced Dermatology, PC, about what could possibly cause red dots on the skin. Many things can cause this, and some of those causes are cancer.
 
Dr. Fox says that red dots have many causes from a variety of skin conditions. Here is a list of the most common:

- Red bumps - can be pus-filled over the face, chest and back: Acne

- Reddish raised flat sores: allergic reaction, irritant or allergic contact dermatitis, herpes, malaria, heat rash

- Reddish dome-shaped bumps, appears sprinkled randomly and itchy: insect bites

- Small red dot, larger or bruise-like spots that appear after taking a medicine: allergic purpura

- Red, raised strawberry like appearance: hemangiomas (scary-sounding name, but very harmless; also called angiomas)

Other causes:

- Reddish & flushed appearance around cheeks, chin, forehead and nose: rosacea

- Red, itchy rash that affects the groin area: jock itch, yeast infection, diaper rash in infants

- Expanding, red and slightly itchy rashes over the chest and abdomen: pityriasis rosea

- Scattered pink and red dots when a patient is feeling under the weather: viral infection.

When it means skin cancer:

- Red, scaly, crusted unusual growth on the lip, chin or anywhere on the face: squamous or basal cell carcinoma

- Reddish, irregular shape and colors: amelanoticmelanoma

- Reddish, purplish, dark or black raised spots anywhere that keep growing: Kaposi’s sarcoma

- Rarely a skin cancer can present as this: molluscum

The Problem with Sunscreen is that People aren’t Using it Enough

New research reveals neglected sun protection practices. Leading dermatologist, Dr. Joshua Fox, comments on the long term damage of sunburn and the importance of daily use of sunscreen.

New Hyde Park, NY (PRWEB) July 16, 2009 — Most people know using sunscreen is one of the best ways to prevent skin cancer. Yet research shows as many as 40 percent of people never use it–even when they go to the beach.

“This is a big part of why skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States,” said New York dermatologist Joshua Fox, M.D., founder and medical director of Advanced Dermatology, P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery. “But the importance of regular sunscreen use, especially for beachgoers in the summertime, can’t be stressed enough. What’s perceived as an uncomfortable but harmless sun burn today could very well become the cause of skin cancer in the future.”

Indeed, more than 100 million American each year experience some degree of sunburn from either not using sunscreen, or improperly applying it, said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Yet even the mildest cases can have a significant impact, Dr. Fox stressed.

“Skin cancer is an insidious disease because it appears years after the damage has been done,” Dr. Fox added, “and I think that’s part of the reason people have such a hard time understanding why they need to use sunscreen now. They think, ‘Nothing is going to happen to me 20 years from now.’ But the truth is that something can.”

That “something,” said the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), is an estimated over 1 million cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 132,000 new cases of melanoma skin cancer diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Melanoma, the most serious form, is responsible for roughly 8,500 skin cancer deaths each year. In fact, incidents of melanoma have risen drastically over the past decade, the AAD reported, with increased, unprotected sun exposure largely to blame.

To stress the importance of continued sunscreen education both within and outside the medical community, New Age Skin Research Foundation, a nonprofit organization of which Dr. Fox is President, conducted, and recently presented to the American Academy of Dermatology, the results of a study that focused on the before and after sun-protection habits of melanoma patients.

Although most patients in the study admitted to being aware of the dangers of sun exposure and importance of sun protection, few practiced applying and reapplying sunscreen, avoiding direct sun exposure and wearing protective clothing until after they were diagnosed with skin cancer.

According to the study, patients’ primary recommendation for preventing new skin cancer is an increase in education, with a focus on young people, explained New Age Skin Foundation Director Rao Saladi, M.D., adding that melanoma is often linked to too much sun exposure.

Complete results of the study, including participants’ comments, will be published in Melanoma Research. This supports previous research on skin cancer that found fewer than one-third of U.S. youths practice effective skin protection.

Focused on youths 11 to 18 years old, the survey revealed alarming trends that include:

• More than 68 percent not wearing sunglasses on sunny days.
• More than 79 percent not wearing protective clothing, such as long pants.
• More than 78 percent not avoiding direct sun exposure or staying in the shade.
• More than 69 percent not properly applying, or reapplying, sunscreen.
• More than 43 percent not using a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more when at the beach or pool.
• Despite skin cancer’s devastating effects, young people–and even adults–seeking the perfect tan continue to spend time in the sun unprotected at an alarming rate. The reality is that there is no such thing as a healthy tan. Other risk factors for skin cancer include age and a family history of the disease. But long-term, unprotected exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays is the primary risk factor.
• “Even on a cloudy day, or in a shaded area, you should apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 of greater 30 minutes before you leave the house,” he added. “The sun’s ultraviolet rays have great reflective powers and can burn your skin on a cloudy day as well as on a sunny one. The risk is year-round.”
• Remembering to reapply sunscreen after swimming or vigorous activity that makes you perspire, is important too, Dr. Fox said. Other daily sun safety rules should include:
• Avoiding direct sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when UV rays are the strongest.
• Covering the skin with loose, comfortable clothing made of tightly woven fabric.
• Applying generous amounts of sunscreen and lip balm with an SPF of 15 or higher.
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat.
• Wearing sunglasses with lenses that have 99 to 100 percent UV absorption.
• Avoiding other sources of UV light, like tanning beds and sun lamps that also damage the skin.

“When proper sun protective practices are followed consistently, skin cancer can largely be prevented,” Dr. Fox said. “We need to change habits and mindsets to help people see the necessity–and urgency–of protecting themselves against skin cancer.”

HEALTH: AUTUMN-PROOFING YOUR SKIN. JOSHUA FOX, M.D., a leading dermatologist, founder of ADVANCED DERMATOLOGY in New York and Long Island,and a spokesperson for the AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY: “As summer turns to autumn and the green leaves turn red, yellow and orange, your skin also changes with the season. While the autumn weather may encourage outdoor activities, your skin will retain less moisture because of the cooler, drier air. The same happens indoors as the heat goes on and up. Key symptoms of ‘autumn skin’ include dryness, fine lines, dull and sallow skin tone, sun and age spots, flaking and irritation, as well as the flare-up of some chronic conditions. Your skin can remain beautiful and glowing if you treat it correctly and make some minor adjustments to your beauty regime to account for the change of seasons. During the fall, the skin needs extra nourishment and protection. Three things that everyone should do to protect their skin in the autumn include drinking lots of water to remain hydrated, applying moisturizer before going outside to give it time to be absorbed and, importantly, continuing to use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15.

T&T News

Take the turbulence out of adolescence. An informative monthly magazine for preteens and teens, t&T News covers the issues affecting adolescents today, from health, family, education and friends, to drugs, alcohol, sex and self-esteem. Parents, teachers, authors, psychologists and other adolescent experts— including kids and young adults— contribute their wisdom, making the adolescent years an easier time to navigate. This site, www.tandTnews.com, complements the print publication by archiving articles and adding tons of constantly changing, mostly interactive content including polls, blogs, message board comments, contests and factoids relevant to the adolescent experience.

Run In With the Sun

Dispelling myths about skin cancer risks.

by Joshua L. Fox, M.D.

Of the approximately 1.3 million Americans who will learn they have melanomas or other skin cancers this year a growing percentage will be young people. According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma is now the most common cancer among Americans aged 25 to 29, and it is the leading cause of cancer death among 15 to 20 year olds. Melanoma is linked to too much exposure to the sun in the first 10 to 19 years of life, a period during which according to some reports almost 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposures occurs. Despite skin cancer’s devastating effects on teenagers and the many health risks faced by teens seeking the perfect tan, young sun worshippers continue to soak in the sun’s dangerous rays at an alarming rate.

Study after study has shown that teens ignore the warnings in their quest to “look good.” In the recent American Academy of Dermatology Sun Exposure Teen Study, 63 percent of teens said they look better when they’re tan and 43 percent of teens admit they lay out in the sun, while less than one-third say they always use sun block. Nearly the same percentage say they never use sun block.

Myth 1: Skin cancer is only for older people. While melanoma usually develops many years after a person’s excessive sun exposure as a child, we are finding it with alarming increased frequency in kids. For example, just last week I had an 18-year-old boy, who liked outdoor sports, diagnosed with an invasive melanoma. Research shows that many forms of skin cancer start as a result of over-exposure to the sun during childhood. One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence may more than double a person’s chances of developing a melanoma later in life.

Myth 2: Tans make you look healthy. There is no such thing as a healthy tan. Both sunburns and suntans compromise skin cell DNA and cause changes that over time age the skin, giving it a wrinkled, leathery appearance with enlarged pores. Sun burns and suntans and cause brown liver spots and white and yellow splotches. But if you are partial to the appearance of having the color of a tan, try applying a self-tanner, can last for several days. Just be mindful that this does not protect the skin from the sun’s exposure.

Myth 3: Tanning salons are safer than the sun. While the indoor tanning industry tells kids that tanning beds and sun lamps are safer than lying on the beach in the hot sun, ongoing use of indoor tanning can be quite dangerous. It can increase the risk of developing malignant melanoma by more than 55 percent, and it could nearly double the chances of several other types of skin cancers. Most sun lamps and tanning beds emit mainly UVA radiation. While these rays don’t necessarily cause sunburns as quickly as does UVB radiation from sunlight that does not make them safe. UVA rays actually cause deeper skin damage, and, like UVB rays, they also may be linked to immune system damage, premature skin aging and skin cancer promotion. UVA is a carcinogen, and studies have shown that tanning salons frequently exceed safe UV limits, with the rays emitted in a tanning parlor being up to 15 times that of the sun.

Myth 4: A sunburn is worse than a tan. Both are dangerous because both cause DNA damage to the skin cells. While sunburns have been directly linked to skin cancer, tans also are dangerous because they cause slower damage to the skin, so teens may not realize that tans are causing harm.

Myth 5: Sunscreen is only for the beach. Teenagers at the beach on a hot summer’s day are not the only ones at risk. Sun damage occurs anywhere, any time your skin is exposed to sunlight, during all four seasons, whether at the beach or park, on a boat, a ski mountain or golf course. People of all ages must use sunscreen every time they are outdoors in the sun— even on cloudy days.

Myth 6: Tans are healthy. Many people associate a suntan with good health and vitality. While Vitamin D is necessary to the body and may help prevent certain cancers, just a small amount of sunlight is needed for the body to manufacture it, far less than the amount that creates a suntan and sunburn. Actually a person is better off taking Vitamin D supplements than going out into the sun.

Myth 7: Tan sprays have SPF. Many teens protect themselves from the sun by using self-tanning sprays thinking they’ll get that “healthy” tan look without the sun damage. “That’s only true if a person avoids the sun entirely. While tanning sprays may make teens look tan, they don’t offer any protection from the sun’s damaging rays. Self-tanners may, in fact, make the skin more susceptible to damage. You still need to apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 after self-tanning.