Important info for you and your loved ones….

One person dies from melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, almost every hour. Yet melanoma is often successfully treated, if caught early. That’s why thousands of dermatologists across the country offer free skin cancer screenings in their communities through the American Academy of Dermatology’s (AAD) National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program. The program recently reached a milestone – two million screenings have been conducted since the program’s inception in 1985. More than 188,000 suspicious lesions have been detected, including more than 21,500 suspected melanomas, through the program.

“The goal of the AAD National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program is to save lives. We’re certain that there are people who are alive today because they received a skin cancer screening,” said David M. Pariser, MD, FAAD, president, American Academy of Dermatology. “Dermatologists have volunteered countless hours to conduct screenings in locations such as sports stadiums, state and county fairs, and hospitals. The AAD National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Screening Program is a key opportunity for dermatologists to educate the public about early detection and prevention of skin cancer while saving lives by finding skin cancers in their earliest, most treatable stages.”

Visit  http://www.aad.org/public/exams/screenings/index.html to find a free skin cancer screening in your area. The Web page also includes a video of what to expect at a screening, an eCard to tell others about free screenings and an eAlert to receive notifications of screenings in your area.

“A skin cancer screening is a non-invasive exam that only takes a few minutes, yet it could save a person’s life,” said Dr. Pariser.

Significantly more than 1 million cases of skin cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. Current estimates are that 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime. One American dies of melanoma almost every hour (every 61 minutes). More than 11,000 Americans die each year from skin cancer, but when detected early, skin cancer has a cure rate of 99 percent.

Skin Clinic MD: Dermatologists reach skin cancer screening milestone is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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Persistence seems to be the key to helping teens through the acne years.

(LA Times)  More than 40% of teens have acne that’s severe enough to require treatment by a physician, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.

The first line of prescription medications include topical retinoids and antibiotics. Using these drugs in combination often produces the best results, but they must be taken for as long as the acne persists, which, for some people, can be many years. Although generally well-tolerated, they frequently cause skin dryness and irritation.

Persistence and patience are required. “Teens want to see the dermatologist today and be better tomorrow,” says Dr. Karl Beutner, associate clinical professor of dermatology at UC San Francisco and co-author of the American Academy of Dermatology’s current acne treatment guidelines. “For medications to be efficacious, they need to be used religiously. It often takes good compliance over a long period of time to see the difference.”

Oral antibiotics including doxycycline and minocycline are also mainstays of treatment, particularly when topical fail.

Skin Clinic MD: Teen acne drug therapy is a post from: Skin Clinic MD

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