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Summer & Sun Damage

Knoxville Dermatology Group clear skin

When we think of summer, a serene beach scene often comes to mind. Summer to us means sun and relaxation by the shore. Extended hours outside require extra attention to your daily skin routine. To maintain your even skin tone and avoid sun damage, dutifully apply sunscreen every day! It’s our mission, as your Knoxville Dermatology team, to inform you about the best and safest methods to prevent skin damage like sun spots or hyperpigmentation, no matter the season.

Sun damage occurs when your skin isn’t properly protected. For example, your skin is at great risk if you haven’t reapplied sunscreen in the appropriate amount of time, or you are exposed during the sun’s “peak” hours with very little protection. This damage alters your skin’s DNA structure over time. Also, your skin increases its melanin production as you build up a tolerance to the sun, causing patches of skin to darken at a different rate than the rest of your skin. This is known as hyperpigmentation.

Protection is a much easier preemptive strike against the sun than correction. Moisturize your face and neck with sunscreen every day. Staying hydrated also helps keep skin supple and glowing. If you know you will be spending a lot of time outdoors and in the sun, reapply sunscreen all over at least every two hours. Feel free to speak with one of our certified physicians about any splotches or changes in your skin.

The Aftermath of a Sleeping in Makeup

Skincare-tips-for-your-30s-and-40s

A night out with the girls or just a long day at work can result in a no-fuss b-line to the bed – no changing or cleansing, just a quick crash into recovery. Under normal circumstances, it’s easy to follow a skincare routine. But crazy schedules and late nights can tempt us to skip the very things that we know we should do – and cleansing the skin is often at the top of that list. So what does occasionally sleeping in your makeup cost your skin?

Your pores collect dirt and oil from the environment and your skin’s normal oil production, along with the foundation, blush, etc. you apply on your face. So when you forget to wash your face at night, your skin doesn’t get a chance to breathe and renew itself. Leaving makeup on your skin all day and night can premature your skin – both in appearance and performance.

Your skin may produce more oil than normal to try to get rid of the dirt. The leftover makeup can increase the look of lines and wrinkles and make you look tired or even splotchy. Eyelashes become dry and brittle, causing them to fall out more frequently. Your eyes may become puffy and red from the excess oil around them. Overall, day-old makeup is just not a good look.

Cleansing wipes are a simple and great alternative to the full nightly skin treatment. Before purchasing any, please consult with your dermatologist about the products best suited for your skin. With an easy alternative cleansing routine, no one has to know you were out late the night before!

Turn Back the Aging Clock: “Age with Grace” Tips Just for You

Skincare in your 20s

If the fountain of youth existed, we’d be splashing its essence into our skincare routine daily. Of course there’s no real youthful fountain, but there are ways to improvise! It’s important to take care of your skin, inside and out, to extend its natural youthful appearance. Your Knoxville Dermatology team has gathered our favorite tips for anti-aging.

Take steps to nurture your inside, and your outside will glow in response. While skincare products definitely help, your organs need love and attention too. Make sure you get the proper daily intake of vitamins and nutrients like vitamin D and omega-3. Drinking plenty of water also helps your skin stay moisturized and healthy.

Limit your sun exposure. UV rays can damage your skin’s DNA, which damages the proteins, elastin and collagen that keep your skin looking young and resilient. Sun exposure can roughen the texture of your skin, add discoloration and even trigger the appearance of wrinkles. You should apply sunscreen to your face, neck, arms and hands thirty minutes prior to stepping outside.

Make sure you get enough sleep each night. This is your body’s chance to reset and reconfigure its renewal processes for the new day. Without an adequate amount of sleep, your body releases more of the stress hormone cortisol, which can break down skin collagen. The growth hormone that aids in tissue repair is released during your deep sleep cycle. So if sleep time is compromised, your body won’t get a chance to repair any wear or tear your skin experiences throughout the day. This can cause your skin to look sallow and lackluster.

We’re here to help you turn back the clock on aging!

If you have any questions about anti-aging tips or about changes in your skin, please call us today at 865-690-9467. Skin health is an important part of total body wellness. Schedule an appointment with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin the care it needs so you can look your best and feel confident at any age.

Tanning Facts – Bottle, Bed or Sun (Part 2)

It’s hard not to associate summer with sunshine and tanning. We all covet that “healthy glow,” but what measures are we willing to take to get it? To make things easier for the tan-lovers out there, your Knoxville Dermatology team put together the facts about bottle, bed and sun tanning. In this entry, we’ll talk about tanning beds.

Bed:

Don’t be fooled by the tanning bed industry. They’ve fed us all lines about “healthy rays” and getting a “base tan” to keep from burning. But the truth is, tanning is just not a part of living a healthy life – whether it’s by bed or by sun.

Further research has shown us the dangers of tanning beds. Last year, the International Agency for Research on Cancer shifted indoor tanning beds to the highest cancer risk category – “carcinogenic to humans.” They cause users to become more vulnerable to melanoma; your risk increases 75% if used only once before the age of 35. Tanning is equivalent to a sunburn in terms of the effect on your skin, so despite developing a “base tan” or easing into it, you are still causing DNA damage to your skin.

Other consequences of indoor tanning are premature aging and wrinkles. Immune system suppression and eye damage are side effects that have also been linked to indoor tanning.

Now we don’t want to mislead you. We are not saying you should avoid the sun and UV rays at all costs. We’re simply saying you should understand the risks and monitor your sun and UV ray exposure. If you have any questions about tanning beds or UV rays, feel free to call us at 865-690-9467 or check out our blog for more information on tanning beds, UVA and UVB rays, SPF and more.

Melanoma: Getting the Facts about this Increasingly Common Cancer

Melanoma is an ugly word, but even uglier are its effects on your body. The most serious cancer of the skin, melanoma begins in the melanocytes (pigment-producing cells) and shows up in the skin because that is where these cells are mostly found. While one in 50 Americans is at risk for developing melanoma at some point in his or her lifetime, you might be surprised to hear that the demographic being most affected by this type of cancer is actually younger adults and teens.

In fact, melanoma is the number one cancer in young adults ages 25 to 29 years old and the second most common cancer in adolescents and young adults ages 15 to 29. About 65% of melanoma cases can be traced to overexposure to ultraviolet or UV rays from natural or artificial sources. This means sunlight and indoor tanning beds are partly to blame. Other factors that can play a part are family history, genetics and environment. Even if you don’t actively tan, it’s still important to realize that melanoma can pop up in melanocytes all throughout the body, even ones which have never been exposed to the sun.

So what does all of this mean for you, especially if you or someone you love is a young adult/teen with a greater risk? It is first important to learn preventative measures and then adhere to them as much as you can.

Practice Safe Sun
• Apply sunscreen generously to all skin that is exposed.
You might think this is only something you do while on vacation or lounging at the pool during summer months, but actually, this should be a daily ritual year-round, even on cloudy or overcast days. Make sure the sunscreen you use offers broad-spectrum protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Also, choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher. Read ingredients and select products which contain titanium dioxide and mexoryl. These block UVA rays better.

When we say apply generously, it means generously! In order to protect your entire body, use about an ounce of sunscreen (picture a full shot glass) and make sure to apply it at least 20 minutes before exposing your skin to the sun. When swimming or sweating under the sun’s rays, reapply sunscreen every couple of hours. Even if your bottle says waterproof, it will need to be reapplied throughout the day.

• Wear clothing that protects your skin
This could be a long-sleeved shirt, pants and a wide-brimmed hat if possible. Lighter colors will help you keep cooler even on the hottest days.

• Be aware of the sun’s intensity
The sun’s rays are most intense during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so try to be most careful during these times.

• Pay special attention when near water, snow and sand
These elements can reflect the sun’s damaging rays and this has the potential to increase your chances of a sunburn.

• Speaking of sunburns…
Avoid them at all cost! Severe sunburns, especially the ones you might have gotten as a child, can increase your risk of developing melanoma and other types of skin cancer. Even one sunburn which included blisters can double your chances of melanoma later in life.

• Don’t be fooled into thinking tanning is better than burning
We understand that everyone would like to be a bronzed goddess, but there are just too many other ways to achieve this look besides tanning. Current research shows that there is no way to get a tan through UV exposure without increasing the risk for skin cancer. Spray tans, self-tanning creams and bronzers can help you achieve the same results without the risk factors.

• Vitamin D comes in supplement form
We’ve heard so many people say they need to be in the sun to get that necessary vitamin D, but in reality, you can get a daily dose of this important vitamin in the form of supplements, all the while sparing your skin.

• Don’t let your medicine chest put you at greater risk
Some prescription and over-the-counter drugs have the potential to increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Be aware of what medicines you are taking and their side-effects. Watch your time in the sun depending on when you are taking them.
Early Detection

In addition to these preventative measures, it is also important to check your skin for anything that doesn’t seem right. Research has shown that patients are more likely to spot a melanoma on their own bodies. Skin cancer is one of the easiest cancers to detect in its early stages because the signs are visible on the skin.

Monthly self-exams should consist of looking over the entire body, including the back, scalp, soles of feet and palms of hands. Any changes in size, color, shape or texture of moles should always be noted and shared with a dermatologist. Annual check-ups with a dermatologist are also necessary to keep track of everything going on with your skin.

While the statistics might sound scary, there’s no need to live in fear about melanoma. Through education, awareness, prevention and early-detection, it is possible to have healthy glowing skin and the team here at Knoxville Dermatology Group is here answer your questions and give you peace of mind.

Schedule an appointment today with one of our board certified physicians to get your skin on the road to better health!

Contact Knoxville Dermatology Group at 865.690.9467.