Tag: Technology

Fox 5 News Visits MetroDerm, P.C.

Posted on by ctidev

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When it comes to picking the right sunscreen it is sometimes hard to make sense of all the labels. You almost need some type of decoding device. How do you know if you need UVB  or UVA protection and what about the SPF. Is 30 as good as 100? If you’re confussed about what to select, good news about sunscreen about sunscreen is just aroung the corner. Actually, sunscreens could soon be getting a makeover. Fox 5 News visited MetroDerm, P.C. and our HealthWatch reporter, Beth Galvin, is here to tell us more about changes coming our way.

People have been complaining about confusing sunscreen labels for years and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finally proposing some major changes to those labels hoping to make sunscreen more user friendly so what does that mean, and where are we getting sunscreen all wrong? Well, we have some advice from a local dermatologist, Dr. D. Papadopoulos of MetroDerm, P.C.

Beth continues to report, “Even in the spring time the Georgia sun can be unforgiving so we reached for the sunscreen. That number on the bottle doesn’t tell the whole story. Dermatology surgeon Dr. Papadopoulous that sunscreen is only rated on its ability to protect against ultraviolet B  or UVB rays which cause sunburn. The sun can also cause ultraviolet A or UVA damage. ”

Dr. Papadopoulas says ” UVA rays tend to make us get tanned but they also cause skin cancer as well. They penetrate a little deeper and they don’t burn us.  UVA rays are found in tanning booths typically. Beth says, “Unde the new FDA’s  guidelines sunscreen labels would have to include both their UVA and UVB protection ratings.  Dr. Papadopoulas comments “so it’s a more complete way of the reporting how that sunscreen can protect you against the harmful rays of the sun. Not only one type of harmful ray,  but the other type of harmful ray as well.”

Beth reports, “Another big change is that number on the bottle.  Some products claim an SPF of 100, even a hundred 110. The FDA wants to cap it at 50.” Dr. Papadopoulos says “The difference between 50 or 100 is maybe 1%.  So if the consumer is led to believe that is they use a 100 it’s going to be much better tan a 50 and therefore lead them to feel like if they put it on every five or six hours or it tends to protect them better, I don’t this shouldn’t be that confusion and that’s why I think the FDA correctly is going to put a cap on the number.”

Dr. Papadopoylos says “It is important to remember is to use an SPF of at least 15 and that’s about a shot glass of product each time. Put it on every 2 hours even if it says it’s water proof or water resistant.  Dr. Papadopoulos also says “Any sunscreen that’s applied, no matter what the number, is only good for about 2 hours. After 2 hours it need to be reapplied.”

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Why should you use an ACMS surgeon for Mohs surgery?

Posted on by ctidev

Any board certified dermatologist can perform Mohs surgery. However, without the ACMS (American College of Mohs Surgery) certification, they may lack in the extensive training required to pass this exclusive membership. An ACMS Mohs surgeon has undergone rigorous fellowship training. Before beginning training, they are chosen through an extremely competitive review and selection process. Then those dermatologic surgeons  selected are required to complete an intensive 1 or 2 year post-residency ACMS fellowship training program. This extensive training includes participation in at least 500 Mohs surgery cases under the supervision of an experienced ACMS-approved Mohs surgeon. Both Dr. Amy Kim and Dr. Diamondis Papdopoulos at MetroDerm, P.C. in Atlanta GA, have undergone these required extensive studies and surgery cases to receive the certification of an ACMS Mohs Surgery certified surgeon.

Highly qualified instructors

Each candidate for the fellowship program is paired with an accredited, veteran ACMS surgeon who has demonstrated proficiency and expertise in Mohs surgery. The fellow-in-training receives direct Mohs surgery direction and mentoring for the duration of the program. To ensure adherence to the ACMS academic and clinical requirements, training centers are re-evaluated every 1 to 5 years.

Fellowship training programs are designed to impart experience and judgment into each graduate. By design, these programs are comprehensive and rigorous because skin cancer itself occurs in a diversity of forms, degrees, and areas of the body. To complete an ACMS-approved fellowship, a physician must:

  • Participate in a minimum of 500 Mohs surgery cases
  • Learn to accurately interpret slides of tissue samples that have been removed during Mohs surgery
  • Perform a wide breadth of reconstructions, ranging from simple closures to complicated multi-step repairs

Advantages of Mohs surgery and using an ACMS Mohs surgeon

Mohs surgery is a highly specialized form of skin cancer surgery. Most skin cancers extend under the skin beyond what is seen on the surface. Therefore, Mohs surgery has two stages: first all the visible tumor is removed, then while the patient waits, the tissue is processed and carefully examined under the microscope. If there is any cancer remaining, another thin margin of skin is removed, from the affected area only, and this is again examined. The whole process is repeated until all the cancer has been removed.

Mohs surgery has two main advantages over other skin cancer treatments. First, for most skin cancers Mohs surgery offers the highest cure rate possible, approximately 99%. Second, as Mohs surgery is guided by what is found under the microscope, it removes the least possible amount skin while still removing all the cancer. This is especially important for lesions on areas such as the ear or face.

Because both MetroDerm P.C. surgeons, Dr. Amy Kim and Dr. Diamondis Papdopoulos have received certification as an ACMS Mohs Surgery certified surgeon, if you find that you need Mohs surgery for removal of skin cancer, rest assured you are in good hands.