Study finds more skin cancer cases due to indoor tanning beds than lung cancer due to smoking

Published on January 29, 2014

JAMA Dermatology has released a study, “International Prevalence of Indoor Tanning -- A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.”

Key study takeaways at-a-glance:

• The number of skin cancer cases due to tanning is higher than the number of lung cancer cases due to smoking.
• In the US alone, 419,254 cases of skin cancer can be attributed to indoor tanning. Out of this number, 6,199 are melanoma cases.

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Position:
The study results demonstrate that tanning bed use, particularly among young people, is an alarmingly widespread behavior. In the US, 35% of adults and 55% of college students have tanned, and the study found there are more than 419,000 new skin cancer cases attributable to indoor tanning each year. Worldwide, there are more skin cancer cases due to indoor tanning than there are lung cancer cases due to smoking.

These results are not surprising given what we know about indoor tanning behaviors and society’s flawed view that an artificially tanned look is beautiful. The Foundation continually works to change perceptions about tanning through its public education efforts, including its PSA campaign Go With Your Own Glow, which is designed to encourage women to embrace and protect their natural skin tones.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that people of all ages, genders, and ethnic backgrounds avoid indoor tanning and take precautions in the sun by limiting outdoor time between 10 am and 4 pm, seeking the shade when outdoors, using a broad spectrum SPF 15+ sunscreen (SPF 30+ sunscreen for extended stays outdoors), and wearing protective clothing, including wide-brimmed hats and UV-blocking sunglasses.

This is the first summary of the international prevalence of indoor tanning exposure. 88 records (studies) were included in the meta-analysis, and the results include data from 406,696 participants. Analyses were performed separately for three geographic regions: the United States and Canada, Northern and Western Europe and Australia, as well as for these regions combined.

ARTICLE PROVIDED by http://www.skincancer.org  for complete article http://www.skincancer.org/news/tanning/international

Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery, PC has been selected as a 5 star rated company for 2013 by Celebration Media

Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Award Presented to: Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery, PC New 2013 Star Rating: 5  Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery, PC has  been selected as a 5star rated company for  2013 by Celebration Media We would like to extend our congratulations to you and your staff for reaching another milestone in customer satisfaction. As you recall, in 2012 your business was awarded the Talk of the Town Customer Satisfaction  Award by Celebration Media, and through hard work and commitment, the Northern Colorado Plastic and  Hand Surgery, PC team has achieved a consecutive win for 2013.

The Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation

The Skin Cancer Foundation’s Seal of Recommendation is granted to sun protection products that have been reviewed by and meet the stringent criteria of a volunteer Photobiology Committee.  The Seal is a symbol of safe and effective sun protection that is recognized by consumers worldwide.

One of the first programs offered by the Foundation, it quickly gained acceptance from consumers for setting the standard for effective sun protection with sunscreen products, sunglasses, specially treated auto and residential window film, umbrellas, clothing and laundry products that wash UV protection into clothing.

Here are the main points in the FDA’s new sunscreen rules:

• Sunscreens may be labeled “broad-spectrum” if they provide protection against ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation.

• Only broad-spectrum sunscreens with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15 or higher can state that they protect again skin cancer if used as directed with other sun protection measures.
• Sunscreens with an SPF of 2-14 will be required to have a warning stating that the product has not been shown to help prevent skin cancer or early skin aging.
• The terms “sunblock”, “sweatproof” and “waterproof” are no longer allowed on sunscreen labels.
• A sunscreen may claim to be “water resistant”; however, the product must specify if it offers 40 minutes or 80 minutes of protection while swimming or sweating, based on standard testing. Sunscreens that are not water resistant must include a direction instructing consumers to use a water resistant sunscreen if swimming or sweating.
• Sunscreens cannot claim to provide sun protection for more than two hours without reapplication.
• Sunscreen manufacturers will have one year to comply with the FDA ruling; smaller companies will have two years.
• The ingredients in sunscreens marketed today have been used for many years and FDA does not have any reason to believe these products are not safe for consumer use.

• The FDA reiterated that sunscreen alone is not enough, and should be used in conjunction with a complete sun protection regimen, including seeking shade, wearing long pants, long-sleeved shirts, hats and sunglasses.

Men and Plastic Surgery

MEN AND COSMETIC SURGERY

The business world is competitive and being qualified sometimes isn’t enough.  The candidate, supervisor or staff member must look qualified too.  Promotion and respect in their careers are overwhelming reasons men desire to look more energetic.

Drooping eyelids, accentuated by a falling brow can create a tired and dragged out look.  A weak chin does not project a powerful presence.  A double chin or deep jowls create an impression of being older than you are.  Love handles or a pot-belly can be interpreted as not being physically fit. The plastic surgeon will provide you with solutions to resolve these features that take away from an energetic and healthy appearance. 

Men often neglect skin care, except for soap and water.  There are medically researched products available to reduce fine lines, eliminate “age spots”, lighten dark areas under the eyes and improve the texture of the skin.  These can be incorporated with surgical procedures to create a clear and smooth appearance.  For brochures or more information contact us at Northern Colorado Plastic and Hand Surgery, 970- 493-8800 

Brow Lifts

Now more affordable and available than ever before, endoscopic procedures are an acceptable avenue for those seeking self-improvement.   In some cases, insurance may help cover some of the expense of the endoscopic brow procedure if the brow and upper eyelids have “drooped” as far as to obstruct visual fields and surgical correction is necessary to correct the condition. This visual problem is often compounded by lax muscles of the brow and an increase in softened tissue and skin.  In some cases the eyebrows are actually below the brow ridge.  This extra weight pushes the eyelid skin downward, when there may not be an excess of actual eyelid tissue.  In these cases a brow lift may be combined with the reconstructive eyelid surgery, or take the place of it.  In any case, the visual fields must be affected to the point that surgical correction is the only answer for insurance to consider covering your claim. 

Cosmetically, you can correct the frown lines that crease your forehead, creating a worried or angry expression by having a plastic surgeon perform a forehead or browlift .  This same procedure can eliminate the sagging skin of the forehead and the heavy look of hooded upper eyelids.  The grooves between the eyebrows and across the top of the nose are also reduced.   The cranky or sad expression is replaced with a younger and more alert expression.

This surgery is often performed in conjunction with additional eyelid surgery or a facelift to enhance the new refreshed look.  There are a variety of techniques the surgeon may use to achieve the improvements you are particularly seeking.  This depends on factors such as the position of your eyebrows, hairline, muscle activity during certain facial expressions, scar forming tendencies and any previous brow or eyelid surgeries.

Plastic surgeons use a special viewing instrument called an endoscope, to perform procedures through several small incisions.  These small incisions, usually less than 1” long, take the place of making a traditionally larger surgical incision to repair or change the tissues under the skin. The scope, a small tubular probe, utilizes a tiny camera and bright light to project images to a screen in the operating suite.  This camera becomes the “eye” of the surgeon.  All surgical instruments are manipulated through a separate small incision and are guided by the images captured by the camera.  This endoscopic technique has been utilized by the cosmetic and reconstructive surgeon for nasal surgery, carpal tunnel release (many plastic surgeons are also hand surgeons), facelifts and forehead/brow lifts. 

Patients have less risk of nerve damage and loss of sensation, bleeding and swelling with the endoscopic procedure.  The scars from surgery are smaller and more easily camouflaged by your natural lines.   The procedures generally take less time and are completed without being admitted to a hospital overnight. Recovery and ability to return to normal activity is usually quicker than from the larger, more open surgical incision.  Your surgeon will explain to you any complications or risks that are involved, including the necessity to switch to the open incision type surgery should any complications be encountered during the endoscopic technique.   

Plastic Surgery

PLASTIC SURGERY

The words “Plastic Surgery” are most often associated with cosmetic surgery- to enhance or reshape the normal structures of the body (what nature has given us) to improve appearance.  The side of plastic surgery of which the general public may not be so aware is “Reconstructive Surgery”, performed on abnormal structures of the body caused by congenital defects, developmental abnormalities, trauma, infection, tumors or disease.   Reconstructive surgery is performed to improve function and also to recreate a normal appearance.   Your family physician may refer you to a Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon for skin cancers, hypertrophic or keloid scars, persistent open wounds, lipomas (fatty tumors), inflamed cysts, cleft lip/palate, breast reduction or reconstruction, burns or deformities.  Reconstructive surgeons also treat traumatic hand injuries involving tendons, nerves, arteries and amputations. 

Many reconstructive procedures are covered by health insurance.  After a consultation with the surgeon a letter can be sent to your insurance carrier outlining your situation and asking permission to correct it and establishing your benefits.  For more information regarding a reconstructive procedure please call 970-493-8800 or visit our website.  

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome can include pain, numbness, and/or tingling in the hand (particularly in the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers), weakened grip, inability to keep firm grasp on objects or even loss of sensation in the thumb and hand. CTS is the result of pressure on the nerve that passes through a tunnel with tendons from the forearm to the hand.  The pressure is a result of swelling which can be caused by inflammation of the tendon lining, dislocations, fractures, arthritis, fluid retention, and sometimes diabetes.  Inflammation can sometimes be caused by repetitive or strenuous use of the hand.   Most often conservative treatment is attempted after a diagnosis is reached.  This may mean changing the activity or motion made with the hand, keeping the wrist straight by splinting to reduce swelling within the tunnel and using oral or injectable anti-inflammatories.

If surgical intervention is indicated, the procedure is performed either in an open fashion or with a scope (creating a smaller incision) close to the palm.  The tunnel is enlarged, pressure relieved, and the swelling decreases. 

    HANDS IN PLASTICS

A significant portion of some plastic and reconstructive surgery practices is dedicated to hand surgery.  Hand surgery is common to correct contractures of the fingers (claw-hand ), release of trigger fingers, removal of ganglions and cysts and to treat birth defects of the hands.  These include releasing fused fingers or removing extra digits.  Plastic surgeons are also skilled in microsurgery.  This enables them to rejoin severed nerves, veins, arteries and tendons with extreme magnification of the surgical microscope.  Surgical replantation of amputated fingers can sometimes be successful with these techniques.  Our thumbs, so valuable to everyday function, can be reconstructed by using a transplanted toe or by moving a finger and rotating it.  Carpal tunnel syndrome and fractures are treated by many plastic surgeons.  “Plastic Surgery” is derived from the Greek words for to mold or give form, this certainly applies in hand surgery as part of a reconstructive practice.

If you suffer an amputation of a finger, immediately stop bleeding by applying direct pressure to the “stump”area and wrap it in a clean cloth.  Wrap the amputated part in a moist cloth sealed inside a plastic bag, place this inside a larger bag filled with ice.  Go immediately to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital. 
GANGLION CYSTS

Lumps that appear in the hand, fingers and wrists can be ganglion cysts.  The hand surgeon makes the diagnosis based on location, size, shape and mobility of the mass.  Often, an x-ray is necessary to establish any bony malformations or joint involvement.  Ganglions usually are near joints or within the sheath surrounding tendons. There have been no specific causes established, like fractures or bruising of the area.  The cysts may increase in size and then gradually disappear without ever causing any pain or problems.  Only those that become painful, especially when using the hand or working the joint, warrant medical treatment.  This can range from aspirating (removing) fluid from the cyst, injections of steroid into the cyst to surgical excision.  Ganglions do sometimes return, even after they’ve disappeared following any of these methods.

If surgical intervention is indicated,  after conservative therapy fails to relieve the symptoms of the ganglion, the surgery is performed on an outpatient basis.  The patient’s hand is numbed and the cyst removed, including a portion of the lining of the joint or tendon from which it “ballooned”.  Often a wrist splint is worn to protect the area for a period of time after the surgery.