Reflections on Beauty

Melanoma, though a less common type of skin cancer, accounts for about 75% of skin cancer deaths. The five-year survival rate for melanoma, if caught early, is 98 percent. That number drops drastically if the cancer is detected late or if it returns.

Because of this, it is important that the initial surgery to remove cancerous cells is accurate enough while leaving healthy tissue in tact.

Up until now, there has been no imaging technique that adequately defines the boundaries of the malignant tissue. Because of this, doctors usually remove excessive tissue around the cancerous cells to ensure a minimal chance of recurrence. Two scientists from Washington University in St. Louis have engineered technologies that promise to alleviate this problem.

The solution combines an imaging technique and a contrast agent that were developed by Lihong Wang, PhD, and Younan Xia, PhD, respectively. The combination of technologies provides an accurate three-dimensional rendering of the cancerous cells.

The technique, which is based on the photoacoustic effect discovered by Alexander Graham Bell, uses light and sounds waves for imaging purposes. Basically, when light pulses through tissue at the right frequency, the tissue generates sound waves as it expands and contracts. A computer then uses a mathematical problem to reconstruct an image from the sound waves.

The use of sounds waves in imaging works a lot better than light because light scatters much more often in tissue, creating a distorted image. The technology is called photoacoustic tomography (PAT).
“PAT improves tissue transparency by two to three orders of magnitude,” says Wang.

Not only that, PAT is a lot safer than other deep imaging technologies, like X-rays, because it uses up to 100 times less voltage output. In addition, photoacoustic images to no require patients consume contrasting agents for the image to be seen.

Although the technology is a vast improvement on other imaging resources, the images still come out fuzzy around the edges of the malignant tissue. In order to improve the image, Xia loads the tissue with gold.

“Gold is much better at scattering and absorbing light than biological materials. One gold nanocage absorbs as much light as a million melanin molecules,” says Xia.

The gold nanocages can be tuned to absorb and scatter light at many different wavelengths. In addition, gold particles that are injected into the body naturally accumulate in tumors because the malignant cells are disorganized and leaky.

In experiments in mice, the photacoustic signal with the addition of the gold agent was 36% stronger. Subcutaneous melanomas that are barely visible show up clearly, and in great depth, on photoacoustic images.

This advancement in melanoma imaging is not only important in the early detection of skin cancer; however, it can assist surgeons in accurately removing advancement malignant tissue. This means that patients who are diagnosed at a later stage may have a higher survival rate than in the past.

For years there has been a common misconception that ethnicities with darker skin tones are less prone to becoming casualties of skin cancer. According StyleList.com, a recent study shows that melanoma-related deaths are actually more common in darker skin tones.

In the study, 41,072 Florida residents with advanced melanoma were classified based on race. African Americans made up Twenty-six percent of the cases, 18% were Hispanics, and only 12% were Caucasian. But what’s the reasoning for this? Apparently minorities are less likely to be treated for skin cancer during the early detection stages.

Since there is an overwhelming public focus on the effects of sun damage on people with fair skin, their darker-skinned counterparts often feel bulletproof. That, and darker skin usually doesn’t burn or peel after having an excessive amount of sun exposure. According to Dr. Marcy Street, the first African-American female MOHS surgeon in the U.S., “there is a fairly common misconception among African Americans and Hispanics that we do not get skin cancer. Nothing could be further from the truth.”

To fight this statistic, individuals with darker skin should perform regular self-checks to ensure early detection of skin cancer. The ABCD Rule is recommended by the American Melanoma Association to help determine if a skin abnormality is cancerous or not:

• Asymmetry: if a lesion doesn’t look the same on both sides if it were divided in half
• Border: if the edges are blurry or jagged
• Color: any changes in color or if there are multiple colors within a lesion
• Diameter: if the lesion larger than ¼” in diameter

Skin cancer can be found almost anywhere on the body, including places that are not exposed to the sun directly. It is important to perform regular self-checks and report any abnormalities to your physician. And don’t forget that no matter how dark your skin is, it is always important to lather on a sunscreen of SPF30 or higher.

From moisturizers to mascara, apple stem cell technology is becoming quite prevalent across the cosmetic industry. But does this new beauty trend have proven benefits, or is it just a glorified fad?

Stem cells are a class of undifferentiated cells that are able to morph into specialized cell types. In addition, they have the ability to renew themselves. Stem cells are important to the human body because they allow the body to renew and repair itself. While the most commonly researched stem cells are found in embryos and different adult tissues, cosmetic companies are now delving into the use of apple stem cells for anti-aging treatments.

Stylelist.com investigated the claims of over-the-counter products made with apple stem cells. While initial studies and clinical pictures of subjects using creams containing apple stem cells show promising results, more trials should be done before praising their results. Some critics fear that the use of stem cells may promote the cloning of pre-cancerous cells, creating skin cancer in its recipients.

Although the fear of increasing cancer risks is real, it is also important to avoid other cancer risk factors such as sun exposure, use of tanning beds, and a family history of skin cancer.

Just as with any seemingly miraculous roadway to the fountain of youth, it is important to recognize that apple stem cell usage may be too good to be true. To date, there are very few proven alternatives to reduce and prevent the signs of aging. Retin-A cream and Sculptra™ injections are currently used to stimulate collagen production, while Botox®, Juvederm®, and other fillers are used to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. All of the above are FDA approved for said purposes and
have undergone rigorous clinical trials.

A recent study by two New York researchers has established that indoor tanning bed usage may be just as addictive as cigarettes or drugs. Researchers Sharon Danoff-Burg, PhD, of the University at Albany, and Catherine E. Mosher, PhD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, consulted 421 students at a Northeastern college about their tanning habits.

These pupils were given a survey normally used to identify drug and alcohol dependence which had been reworded to reflect their relationship with indoor tanning. Of the 421 students, 229 had visited indoor tanning salons. Of the 229 subjects, 160 met the researchers’ standards for indoor tanning addiction.  That’s 38% of all students tested qualifying as “addicted,” which could point to a major health concern for young adults.

Moreover, the study claimed that students addicted to tanning beds were also more inclined to have heightened anxiety and to abuse other addictive substances. “In addition to appearance enhancement, motivations [for tanning] include relaxation, improved mood, and socialization,” the study deduced.

While opponents have reservations about the study’s interpretation of addiction, it is a clear indication that indoor tanning is proving irresistible to some.  Considering that many studies have been released exposing the harmful effects of indoor tanning, it is important for young adults to understand what they are signing up for when they hit to tanning booth.

Our advice is to avoid the bronzed look altogether and opt for a healthy and natural skin tone.  The good news is this look is coming into fashion.  For New Jersey residents, we recommend sensible, limited sun exposure and using a sun screen of SPF 45 or higher every day to ensure that you are keeping your skin safe from the ravages of ultra-violet radiation.

The New England Journal of Medicine recently released results of a University of London study that shows people with vitiligo may have a natural protection against skin cancer.

According to the BBC report, 4300 people were identified as having a common gene mutation that increases the potential to develop vitiligo while simultaneously decreased their risk of skin cancer. In the study, 2813 individuals without vitiligo and 1514 with vitiligo underwent genetic testing. Researchers were able to identify 7 genes linked to vitiligo.

Approximately 70% of people have the specific gene combination that increases the chance of developing vitiligo and concurrently reducing their risk of skin cancer known as malignant melanoma. Conversely, 30% have a gene combination that increases the risk of melanoma while lessening the risk of developing vitiligo.

According to the researchers, everybody has one of the two variations, though there is no guarantee based on the variants that people will or will not develop vitiligo or skin cancer.  Since there is no way for any of us to be certain, we repeat our mantra: “Never go out without sunscreen’s protection!”