HealthDay (3/3, Dotinga) reported that people who smoke are at increased risk of developing psoriasis, according to a study recently published in the American Journal of Epidemiology. After examining data on 2,410 individuals diagnosed with psoriasis, then adjusting for confounding factors, “researchers found that current smokers were about 1.9 times more likely to have psoriasis than nonsmokers. Past smokers were nearly 1.4 times more likely to have the condition.”
Author: The Hair Doc
One Melanoma Patient Treated With Adoptive Immunotherapy Currently Cancer-Free.
The Los Angeles Times (3/6, Healy) reports, “In a bid to make cancer immunotherapy more effective, researchers report they have succeeded in halting the progress of aggressive melanoma in its tracks — at least briefly — in seven patients treated with an army of cloned cancer-fighting immune cells.” Researchers found that, “in one of those patients, the treatment resulted in complete remission of his metastatic melanoma and evidence that his immune system stands ready to fight any return of the cancer after three years.” The research, “published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, contributes to hopes that a tumor-fighting strategy called immunotherapy can slow, halt or even reverse the growth of a range of cancers — and do so with fewer dangerous side effects.” WebMD (3/6, DeNoon) also covers the story.
Kids With Asthma May Have Increased Risk For Shingles.
HealthDay (3/6, Mozes) reports, “Children with asthma have a higher risk for developing shingles — a painful skin rash — following infection with the herpes zoster virus,” according to a study presented yesterday at the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology annual meeting. After analyzing “277 medical records involving patients under the age of 18 who had experienced an episode of shingles between 1996 and 2001,” then comparing them against the medical records of 277 youngsters without any history of shingles, researchers “found that asthmatic patients were 2.2 times more likely to have a case of shingles compared to those who did not have asthma.”
Skin and Allergy News
Dr. Mejia made the top 10 list for the year in Skin & Allergy News based on his Hair Restoration article and video presented earlier in 2011.
Check it out at:
Skin and Allergy News
Photodynamic Therapy : A Patient Shares Her Experience
Photodynamic Therapy, according to Cancer.org is:
A treatment that uses special drugs, called photosensitizing agents, along with light to kill cancer cells. The drugs only work after they have been activated or “turned on” by certain kinds of light. PDT may also be called photoradiation therapy, phototherapy, or photochemotherapy. Continue reading “Photodynamic Therapy : A Patient Shares Her Experience”
Squamous Cell Carcinoma Explained & Patient Video Testimonial
Our patient, Pat has had numerous skin cancer all over her body for 32 years. She came to our office to remove three squamous cell carcinoma on her chin and jawline. Pat was very nervous about the removal of the skin cancer on these areas because she had multiple skin cancers in the same area previously which were were removed at the University of Miami. The current scar tissue was her main concern. This video was taken two weeks after the squamous cell carcinoma was removed. Continue reading “Squamous Cell Carcinoma Explained & Patient Video Testimonial”
Reconstructive Surgery After Skin Cancer Surgery Testimonial
Our patient, Marvin had reconstructive surgery after Mohs skin cancer on the side of his face. Recently he came back to the office for another Mohs skin cancer surgery on his nose. He shares in this testimonial how some other plastic surgeons commented on the good results with no scarring.
We have been sharing some testimonials from our patients recently to ease any anxiety you may have about this procedure. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or contact us for any questions or concerns.
Pictures of skin cancer before and after Mohs surgery. You can see the results in the video after complete healing. Continue reading “Reconstructive Surgery After Skin Cancer Surgery Testimonial”
Pictures of Skin Cancer : Before & After Mohs Surgery
In the video below, Dr. Mejia shows before and after pictures from a skin cancer surgery when a patient came to the office to get her sutures removed.
- Explanation and images of before and after begin at 0:34—2:15
In this video below, Dr. Mejia explains the procedure for Mohs skin cancer from start to finish. You can see before and after pictures in these time markers in the video:
- 6 min. 56 seconds (before & after + suture removal)
- 8 min. 15 seconds (before & after + testimonial)
Before and After Basal Cell Surgery with Mohs
Below you can see some more in-depth pictures of before and after skin cancer. This young woman in her 30’s came in for a check-up after having Mohs skin cancer surgery a month ago on her forehead. She had squamous cell carcinoma. In a previous video, we showed you Don’s testimonial for reconstructive surgery where he now advocates for the early prevention of skin cancer after his 11 Mohs surgeries. Although this patient’s surgery was much smaller with only six sutures, Dr. Mejia was able to spot another basal skin cancer on her nose that had previously gone unnoticed by other dermatologists, and subsequently removed it. As you can see in the before and after skin cancer pictures, she has no scarring.
Squamous Skin Cancer On Forehead Before Mohs Skin Cancer Surgery
Skin Cancer Picture After Removal (Note: In video, this is labeled before Mohs in error)
Reconstructive Surgery After Skin Cancer
One Month After Surgery – No Scarring
Testimonials from Patients after Skin Cancer Surgery with Dr. Mejia
Reconstructive Surgery After Mohs ~ A Patient Who Underwent 11 Surgeries
Don has had reconstructive surgery after Mohs skin cancer many times. He has been coming to Jupiter Dermatology for about three years. Like many sun worshippers in South Florida, he never used sunblock. He has had to have eleven surgeries to remove the skin cancer on his nose, forehead, right temple, ear, chest and legs. Most were squamous cell skin cancer. Luckily, he didn’t have any melanomas which is the most advanced type of skin cancer. Continue reading “Reconstructive Surgery After Mohs ~ A Patient Who Underwent 11 Surgeries”
Itchy Skin – Causes And Treatments On Sun Sentinel Live Health Chat
Itchy Skin was the topic of a live health chat Dr. Mejia participated in today with Dr. Marta Rendon on the Sun Sentinel Health Chat . It was simultaneously in all the Tribune Co. papers: The Sun-Sentinel, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Orlando Sentinel, Baltimore Sun, Hartford Courant.
Some definitions of the different types of skin conditions and diseases for itchy skin are:
Psoriasis (sore-EYE-ah-sis) is a chronic (long-lasting) disease. It develops when a person’s immune system sends faulty signals that tell skin cells to grow too quickly. New skin cells form in days rather than weeks. The body does not shed these excess skin cells. The skin cells pile up on the surface of the skin, causing patches of psoriasis to appear. Continue reading “Itchy Skin – Causes And Treatments On Sun Sentinel Live Health Chat”
