Archive for June 2009
Damage Control
June 12th, 2009
It’s never too late to protect your skin from the sun.
By Jessica
Dr. Lupin cited as expert on sun protection.Environment Canada estimates that more than 76,000 new cases of skin cancers are diagnosed each year in this country. Granted, small amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are essential to the body’s production of vitamin D, a direct conduit to bone health, among other things. But B.C.-based dermatologist Dr. Mark Lupin warns, “Like all good things, moderation is key.”
At this stage, you know that exposure to UV rays, which include deep-penetrating UVA and skin-burning UVB, increases the incidence of skin cancers as well as prematurely aged skin. Short of swathing all exposed skin in space-age protective gear, what do you do once the damage is done?
Lupin suggests that in addition to laser and other light-source devices like Fraxel and photodynamic therapy, which work to resurface and rejuvenate the skin from within, topical formulations of vitamins A, C, and E also target the visible effects of cellular degeneration. Think brown spots, leathering and fine lines.
He points specifically to coffeeberry extract. Using the whole fruit of the coffee plant, this potent polyphenol, a key antiaging agent, has an antioxidant factor more potent than vitamin C and green-tea extracts and can be found in Revaléskin, a complete line of damage-reversing skin care available through your dermatologist.
To prevent further damage, always wear sunscreen, especially when UV rays are at their most intense, from mid-morning to late afternoon, and reapply every two to four hours. Choose a Canadian Dermatology Association-approved product. Health Canada advises a broad-spectrum sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more applied 20 minutes prior to going out.
Canadian Sun-Awareness Week June 8-14, 2009
June 11th, 2009
As Regional Director and Spokesperson for the Canadian Dermatology Association, Dr. Lupin will be performing free public skin cancer screenings at the University of Victoria’s Business and Economics Building on Tuesday, June 9th at 2:00 p.m. For further information on this year’s campaigns and innitiatives, please visit www.dermatology.ca.
Planning cosmetic treatments for spring
June 2nd, 2009
Sunday April 19 2009 - Times Colonist Editorial Feature
By Dr. Mark Lupin
To put our lives in order, we must plan. We plan our grocery lists, vacations, daily activities… If we want to really get organized, we set personal goals to more affectively achieve our dreams.
So, why not plan our cosmetic treatments to fit with schedules. Now that spring has sprung and with summer upon us, getting prepared now will allow us to feel confident wearing those colourful and light summer dresses, bikini swimsuits and breathable footwear.
Let’s begin with the legs. If veins, brown spots, unwanted hair, cellulite and/or generous thighs bother you, there are ways to improve or remove. Technology has advanced to the point that a combination of lasers can be used to treat both red and blue veins without injections. Similarly, several laser systems can effectively treat brown or black hair covering large areas at a time and respecting natural skin colour. The Thermacool system from Thermage, approved for cellulite treatment, is unique as a single treatment helps tighten loose skin. Ultrashape remains Canada’s first and only non-painful, no downtime focused ultrasonic treatment to reduce fat and improve the body profile.
While some sun is good, too much is not pretty and is not healthy. Brown age spots, red veins and a crepe quality to the skin may be evident. Damage to the collagen and precancerous changes may occur on the surface. Red veins and brown age spots can be treated individually or a procedure termed photorejuvenation may be considered to tackle both together. If precancerous changes occur, the addition of a presciption-based light sensitizing lotion termed Levulan® can be helpful in a procedure termed photodynamic therapy. If wrinkles or a crepe quality need to be improved, the Fraxel laser is often the best option.
Myriad possibilities exist for the face and neck, with the best treatments looking the most natural. One of the most exciting advances is in revolumizing with dermal fillers and using combinations of modalities such as Fraxel re:pair laser resurfacing with botox and fillers. It can be thrilling to erase a tired or stressed look, lift the cheeks, redefine lips that have lost their edge and remove unsightly red veins or moles. For the busy professional who cannot afford downtime but still would like to improve several aspects of the skin, Revlite lasertoning combined with an infusion microdermabrasion treatment series can be a nice introduction.
As a dermatologist, I would be remiss not to mention the importance of protecting the skin against the harmful aspect of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. While we need a few minutes of sun to boost vitamin D levels, the skin can only make so much vitamin D after which only an inactive form results. Because skin cancer is on the rise and some types are eminently preventable, it makes sense to enjoy the sun but to do it wisely. Beyond sunscreens, consider adding an antioxidant night cream such as Revaleskin - derived from coffee berries and with 10 times the potency of vitamin C.
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