A Message From Dr. Young

Dear Valued Patients, Friends and Colleagues,

February has always been one of my favorite months of the year. It is the month of love, lunar new year and plum blossom, a symbol of winter ending and a herald of spring. The pale pink, delicate blossoms are cherished because they bloom vibrantly and so bravely amidst the winter chill. They symbolize resilience, perseverance and hope, as well as beauty thriving in adverse circumstances. Since they are considered the first flower of the year, they also represent purity and renewal.

I hope that amidst adversity, we will find beauty and love. For there is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved.

Sincerely,
Alison Young, MD PhD

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Product of the Month

Procedure of the Month

DermTech Melanoma Test – An Innovative, Non-Invasive Method to Enhance Melanoma Detection

The DermTech Melanoma Test non-invasively detects the presence of genomic markers associated with melanoma. It does this at a level 10,000x closer than the traditional care pathway, such as a microscope or visual assessment. The Smart Sticker™ (a specially designed adhesive) is used to gently lift skin cells from the top layers of your skin where the genomic markers are present, store and preserve your skin cells for the time needed to ship the samples to the DermTech Gene Lab for testing.
 
It’s a reliable test because the absence of those markers indicate an extremely low likelihood that a mole is melanoma. And the presence of those markers also signals a high risk for melanoma, which helps the doctor make a more informed decision.
 
By detecting genomic markers associated with melanoma, the DermTech test helps me identify high risk melanocytic lesions at their earliest stages without performing a skin biopsy. – Dr Young

Did You Know?

Sunscreens Protecting Against UVA, UVB Light May Provide Only Incomplete Skin Protection, Experts Contend
Healio (1/12, Volansky) reports, “Sunscreens protecting individuals from ultraviolet A and B light may provide only incomplete skin protection, according to a consensus statement from a panel of dermatology experts.” The panel “suggested that much of the research into the impact of sunlight light has focused on ultraviolet (UV) light in the 290 nm to 320 nm range, or UVB wavelengths” and “developed consensus recommendations and clinical guidelines for photoprotection.” The consensus statement was published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.
 
Individuals With Darker Skin Types Should Protect Skin From Visible And UV Light Damage, Literature Review Indicates
Healio (1/27, Forand) reports, “Individuals with darker skin types should protect their skin from visible light damage, as well as ultraviolet light,” researchers posited after finding that “visible light, particularly in patients with darker skin tone, can either exacerbate or precipitate pigmentary disorders like melasma or post-inflammatory hyper pigmentation.” The findings of the “comprehensive literature review” were presented in a poster at a dermatology meeting.
 
For protection from free radicals generated by visible light and infrared, I recommend daily application of a topical antioxidant (e.g. vitamin C) prior to sunscreen. Use of a tinted sunscreen containing 2-3% iron oxide offers additional protection from visible light and infrared. Apart from topical antioxidant and tinted sunscreen application, I also recommend daily oral intake of Heliocare Advanced® which contains niacinamide (vitamin B3) and polypodium leucotomos, both powerful antioxidants that neutralize free radicals which cause photodamage, skin cancers and photoaging.
 
Clinical studies have shown that orally administered Polypodium leucotomos also appears to provide adjunctive benefits in treating vitiligo, melasma, and may have the potential to help with postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, in addition to preventing many harmful effects associated with sunlight exposure.
 
 – Dr Young
 
Patients With Hyperpigmentation Disorders May Benefit From Novel Stabilized Formulation Of Topical Cysteamine, Meta-Analysis Indicates
Healio (1/18, Volansky) reported, “Patients with hyperpigmentation disorders benefited from a novel stabilized formulation of topical cysteamine,” investigators concluded in a meta-analysis, the authors of which concluded that “topical stabilized cysteamine can be regarded to as one of the most potent treatments available for hyperpigmentation disorders in humans.” The findings were published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology.
 
I find topical Cysteamine to be an effective treatment for not just melasma but chronic hyperpigmentation from photodamage, solar lentigines, chronic dermatitis, systemic disorders, medication reactions and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation, especially when combined with other brightening agents, retinoids, topical corticosteroids, antioxidants and sunscreen. – Dr Young

Dr. Young's Tip of the Month

Managing Hair Loss
When faced with hair loss, many people aren’t sure where to turn for help. They often:

• Try to hide the problem by changing their part or hairstyle
• Buy products that come with claims that they can restore hair
• Take vitamins and other supplements sold specifically for hair growth

1. Make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist. Hair loss has so many causes. The sooner you find the cause, the better your chance of getting results you want.

2. Wash and condition your hair without traumatizing it. Hair that’s thinning or falling out is fragile and easily damaged. Here’s what dermatologists recommend for their patients who have hair loss:
   • Use a gentle shampoo. Some shampoos can strip moisture from your hair.
   • Apply a moisturizing conditioner after every shampoo. Conditioner coats your strands, which reduces breakage and split ends.
   • Make use of a leave-in conditioner or detangler. Applying this every time after you wash and condition your hair helps to reduce breakage, split ends, and frizz.
   • Wrap your hair in a microfiber towel to help it dry more quickly. This helps reduce the time you spend blow-drying.
3. Forgo hot-oil treatments. These heat up the hair, which further damages fragile hair.
4. Stop at-home coloring, perming, chemical straightening, and relaxing. If you want to use these, find a salon that specializes in the service you want and has professionals who know how to examine your scalp and hair in order to find the product most suitable for you. Make sure the salon uses a moisturizing conditioner afterward.
5. Limit your use of curling irons, flat irons, and hot combs, using one only on a special occasion, such as a wedding or job interview. These heat up your hair, which can weaken it.
6. Use the lowest heat setting on your blow-dryer. When possible, let your hair dry naturally rather than using a blow-dryer. To repeat, wrapping wet hair in a microfiber towel can help dry your hair more quickly.
7. Stop wearing your hair tightly pulled back in a bun, ponytail, pigtails, cornrows, or braids. Frequently wearing a hairstyle that pulls on your hair can cause a type of hair loss called traction alopecia. In time, anything that pulls on your hair can cause permanent hair loss. You'll find styling changes that can help you prevent this type of hair loss at Hairstyles that pull can lead to hair loss.
8. If you have a habit of twisting your hair around your finger or pulling on it, try to stop. These habits can further weaken already fragile hair, causing more hair loss.
9. Brush or comb your hair gently, and only enough to style it. Tugging on your hair while brushing or combing it can lead to hair loss.
10. If you smoke, stop. Smoking causes inflammation throughout the body, which can worsen hair loss.
11. Eat healthy. If you’re not getting enough of some nutrients, such as iron or protein, this can lead to hair loss.
12. Eating too few calories every day can also cause significant hair loss. Here’s what you can do to eat healthy: Healthy Eating Plan
13. Before taking a supplement to grow your hair, find out whether you’re getting enough of certain vitamins or minerals. A blood test can tell you whether you’re not getting enough of certain nutrients.

It’s important to understand that the supplements you see advertised for hair growth are not regulated. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate dietary supplements for safety and effectiveness before they are sold. That responsibility lies with the company manufacturing the product.

If you decide to try supplements, understand that they can do more harm than good. Getting too much of certain nutrients (including selenium, Vitamin A, and Vitamin E) has been linked to hair loss.

By seeing a board-certified dermatologist, you can learn inside secrets tailored to your individual needs that can help you with hair loss.