Tanning Industry Calls Warnings A "Sun Scare" Conspiracy By Doctors

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If you're a dermatologist or physician who has warned patients about the dangers of tanning, you've been been labled part of "the Sun Scare people" who are "just like Big Tobacco, lying for money and killing people".

The tanning indusrty is changing the debate, moving the discussion from tanning's risks to a "deadly epidemic of vitamin D deficiendy and positioning itself as the more trustworthy source of information on tannings health effects.

Evidently the tanning indusrty is taking a page out of the big tabacco's book and now targeting physicians as part of a conspiracty out to protect their own financial interests, as well as using a few willing doctors to tout their own position.

Fairwarning.or has posted an article that you can read here: Burned By Health Warnings, Defiant Tanning Industry Assails Doctors, 'Sun Scare' Conspiracy

In the video, Levy is explicit about what salon employees are allowed to say at work and what they should say on their own time. He encourages the D-Angels to follow what he calls the “Clark Kent/Superman” model. Inside the salon, employees should be Clark Kents who refrain from making health claims about vitamin D and direct clients to industry websites that make pro-tanning claims that are carefully calibrated to stay inside legal bounds. Beyond salon walls, however, employees can spread their wings, becoming superheroes who expose the lies of sunscreen manufacturers and dermatologists and share the vitamin D gospel. “Outside the salon, you can be a D-Angel,” Levy says in the video. “You can promote a message to your friends and neighbors that the Sun Scare people are just like Big Tobacco, lying for money and killing people.”

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I Want To Be A Fibroblast!

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medical spa md fibroblastWhat criteria is most important when choosing a treatment or technology to stimulate fibroblasts for skin rejuvenation?

Being a dermatologist focused on aesthetic treatment options for improving skin's condition  it's quality and overall appearance – I clinically and scientifically overlook tons of different approaches.

Basically, and I think we can agree on this, many treatments try to target the fibroblast. Its about the stimulation of this branched tissue cell who's function is to maintain the structural integrity of connective tissues by continously secreting precursors of the extracellular matrix such as ground substance, a variety of fibers notably the reticular and elastic ones and cytokines.

The goal in many skin rejuvenation treatments is to activate and stimulate the fibroblasts... and there are countless strategies to do this: You might choose chemical peels, energy based devices such as non-fractionated or fractionated resurfacing lasers, intense pulsed light (IPL), infrared light or radiofrequency. One might think of dermal filler substances such as hyaluronic acid or – better – calciumhydroxylapatite (there are even publications on a stimulating effect botulinum toxin type a...). Further one might consider microneedling, dermabrasion, etc..

Or think about "newer" technologies such as platelet rich plasma, carboxytherapy, nitrogen plasma energy, kinetic HA (kinetic Hyaluronic Acid). And last but not least cosmeceuticals (this list is not exhaustive!!).

Which strategy to choose? It's actually very difficult to find way through this jungle!

I would like to encourage and activate the discussion here and ask for your opinion: What are the most important criteria for you when you do your choice? Is it about mangeability, about downtime, about scientific proof, about safety, about treatment protocols (such as e.g. multiple treatments), about clinical experience of other physicians, about availability, about the learning curve, about the deligability, about the costs?

What's your decision maker here?

Laser/IPL Procedures For Patients With Skin Cancer History

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There was a recent posted question on the American Board of Laser Surgery's website about treating a patient who has had basal cell carcinoma (BCC) in the past with a treatment like IPL.

This is obviously a controversial topic for sure!

My protocol (remembering that I am a surgeon) is that anyone with a history of skin cancer must have a full body skin cancer screening in the last six months by their dermatologist prior to me treating them. I must have a letter from that dermatologist stating that there is no active cancer anywhere on the skin and no suspicious lesions that need to be followed. Obviously, if there was a h/o skin cancer on an area I am NOT treating with IPL or laser, I just want a full body check and then we're good. If there is a previous lesion IN the area I am treating, then after dermatology clearance, I have a strong talk with the patient discussing the fact that treatmetns that potentially depigment lesions can mask the warning signs of a potential or growing cancer. They sign separately in consent their understanding and acceptance of risk and wish to proceed with the cosmetic treatment.

This particular question was regarding a simple IPL treatment for a cosmetic concern in a patient that had had h/o BCC in another area. If cleared, you would be fine to treat the cosmetic condition. I did not want anyone reading this to think that I was indicating that the IPL was meant to actually treat the BCC. I do think that it can be preventative of precancers buy removing damaged pigment cells and pigment, but that is obviously an impossible study. Hope that helps!

Dr. Sabine Zenker: Aesthetic Dermatologist In Munich, Germany

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Dr. Sabine Zenker welcomes us to her clinic in Munich, Germany and she shares her thoughts on cosmetic dermatology, technology, and the operations of her clinic.Dr. Sabine Zenker Munich Board Certified Dermaologist

Dr. Sabine Zenker is a well know European dermatologist who has a passion for clinical research and teaching that we've been wanting to interview for some time. We finally got together to learn what this German dermatologist thinks. 

Name: Sabine Zenker, MD
Clinic: Dr. Zenker Dermatology
Location: Munich, Germany
Website: dr-zenker.de

That's interesting: Dr. Sabine Zenker is the consultant dermatologist for L'Oreal Paris and an internationally recognized authority on micro-invasive techniques. She is well known for her clinical research into both established and innovative technologies and treatments, teaching, training, and continuing professional development both in Germany and internationally.

She contributes regularly to medical journals, public press, print, TV and multimedia. Sabine Zenker is a member of a large number of national and international societies including DDG, AAD, ASCDAS, AAAACS, EADV, ISDS, DASIL etc. She serves as executive board member of ESCAD. She is also a speaker and clinical trainer on almost any recognized national and international congress in the aesthetic medical field

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