Dr. Mejia has a chat with a patient that underwent Mohs Skin Cancer surgery. Dr. Mejia also does the cosmetic surgery after Mohs so the patient has minimal scarring.
Dr. Mejia discusses the importance of early skin cancer detection. For many years, this patient thought he had a birth mark on his arm. Unfortunately, it was a basal cell carcinoma and Mohs skin cancer surgery was performed.
Dr. Mejia wants to remind people that if you have a growth that has been there for a long time, get it checked it out.
Patient explains the history of her skin cancer and her option of doing the Photodynamic Therapy treatment (PDT) before undergoing Mohs skin cancer surgery. She also emphasizes the importance of using sunblock.
The Indoor Tanning Association and the Federal Trade Commission have recently come to an agreement regarding claims from the Indoor Tanning Association. Many of those claims said they were endorsed by the government. However as dermatologist, we know that indoor tanning and chronic exposure to UV increases the risk of skin cancer and melanomas, which are a deadly form of skin cancer.
Consequently, new guidelines settled between the Federal Trade Commission and the Indoor Tanning Association now require warning signs that indicate exposure to Ultraviolet Light Radiation may increase the likelihood of skin cancer. Continue reading “Skin Cancer & Indoor Tanning”
PDT Treatment or Photodynamic Therapy is completed. The patient shares her experience.. After a Blue Light Treatment, the patient must hibernate and be completely out of the sun for a few days. For this reason, a very strong sunblock is applied.
Additionally, Sarah, our Physician Assistant gives great sunscreen tips to prevent skin cancer. Dr. Mejia, a qualified Mohs skin cancer surgeon will then follow up with attentive care for the results of the PDT.
Photodynamic Therapy, or PDT is a sometimes called Blue Light treatment for skin cancer. It treats pre-cancer cells pre-clinically beneath the surface. Sarah, our Physician Assistant answers questions about PDT while the patient is undergoing the Blue Light treatment for 16 minutes and 40 seconds.
Some of the patients get the benefit of having smoother skin, a cosmetic overlap from the treatment, even though they are being treated for pre-cancer.
Watch as a patient undergoes the actual procedure of Photodynamic Therapy, or PDT. After the pre-treatment as explained in our previous post, the patient is now under the Blue Light. Goggles are necessary to protect the eyes. Levulon, the solution in the pre-treatment is now being absorbed by the pre-cancerous cells. Dr. Mejia, a skin cancer specialist and surgeon oversees all the procedures.
Sarah, our Physician Assistant, discusses the pre-treatment for PDT or Photodynamic Therapy. She explains how the solution of levulon is absorbed into the skin. PDT treats cancerous spots and prevents precancer before it turns to skin cancer. The solution is put on the patient for an hour and a half during which time the solution soaks to the skin. Later during the blue light therapy, the patients skin reacts to the blue light. PDT is a preventative treatment. It treats precancer spots and prevents turning from basal cell carcinoma to squamous cell carcinoma.
The sun emits both UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays contribute to premature aging, collagen and elastin degradation and increase the chance of skin cancers. UVB rays cause your skin to get a sun burn. Naturally, when picking out a “good” sunblock, you would think to pick a higher SPF number to get better protection.
SPF only blocks UVB (burning rays) so although your skin is not burning, you are still at an increased risk for developing skin cancers and photodamage. An ideal sunblock is one with the active ingredients of zinc oxide and titanium oxide with an SPF of at least 30. These are called physical blocks. These two active ingredients protect against both types of damaging rays.
Listed below is a chart on the most common ingredients in sunblocks and how they protect your skin.
