by Todd Etshman, In Good Health Rochester (MARCH 1, 2020)

Early detection of cancer through a screening process is still essential for effective cancer treatment and for the patient’s chances of survival, several local experts say.

People in a group at high risk of cancer need to have more frequent screening and must begin screening at an earlier age. Common high-risk factors include age, race, family history and the results of previous screenings above normal range.

Women tend to be better at getting screened for cancer than men for a variety of reasons, says Jean Joseph, chairman of the department of urology at the University of Rochester Medical Center. “Men don’t go to the doctor until there’s a problem,” he says. For some men, prostate and colon cancer screening involved areas of the body that are taboo. It’s a mistake that can cost lives. “What you don’t know can kill you,” Joseph says.

Here’s a look at commonly used screens for leading types of cancer.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the U.S. today, accounting for more incidents of cancer than every other cancer combined. Fortunately, it is also one that is relatively easy to monitor and detect.

A Rochester based company, VisualDx, developed the Aysa app that allows people to photograph a skin lesion and have it analyzed before a dermatologist even sees it. Soon, patients will be able to send that picture directly to a dermatologist, says Nana Duffy, lead physician for dermatology at Rochester Regional Health. “Artificial intelligence can only help us”, she says.

Click to read about the other common cancer screenings discussed in the article.

Technological and chemical advances continue to bring new dermatological products to market, promising healthy, moisturized skin. But a product discovered in the 19th century still tops dermatologists’ recommendations for healing and keeping skin healthy: petroleum jelly.

You may have an old jar of petroleum jelly collecting dust in the back of your medicine cabinet, but did you know just how versatile that petroleum jelly can be? We’ve rounded up 10 ways you can use petroleum jelly today.

1. Heals minor skin scrapes and bruises – Petroleum jelly keeps the area moist, preventing the wound from drying out and forming an ugly scab. It can also keep the scrape or bruise from getting worse. Remember to clean the area first before applying the jelly.
2. Relieves dry skin – Dry skin can appear dull and rough, with fine scales that flake off easily. It can be itchy and sometimes even crack and bleed. Rub petroleum jelly on dry patches including your eyelids and lips to relieve itch and stop the flaking. Apply to dry chapped noses during cold and allergy season.
3. Moisturizes – Step out of the shower and apply the jelly (like you would with lotion) to lock in moisture to the skin. For lips, use just like Chapstick.
4. Saves your hair – Swimming in pool water, the summer sun, and wind can all dry your hair out. Petroleum jelly can lessen the appearance of split ends and add luster. Just rub a small amount in your palms and apply to the ends of your hair.
5. Treats diaper rash – If your baby has a diaper rash, apply the jelly during each diaper change. If applied properly, the rash should clear up within a few days. If the rash does not go away, seek help from your child’s pediatrician or a dermatologist.
6. Prevents chafing – Chafing happens when body parts rub together or against clothing, causing a painful skin irritation. Apply petroleum jelly to problem areas like the inner thighs, underarms, or nipples to prevent the irritation.
7. Prevents skin stains – Looking to dye your hair or get a spray tan? Apply the jelly around your hair line or on your cuticles so the dye or spray tan doesn’t stain your skin or accumulate in your nail beds.
8. Rehydrates your nails – If you treat yourself to mani-pedis, apply petroleum jelly to your nails and cuticles in between polishes. This hydrates your nails, cutting down on potential breakage and chipping. It’s best if you apply it when your nails are damp.
9. Saves your pet’s paws – After you’ve gone for a stroll with your pet, clean his or her paws with gauze, dry, then apply the jelly.
10. Helps remove stuck objects – Stubborn ring won’t come off? Apply a little around the stuck object to safely remove.

Written by Dr. David Harker

Resources:

AAD

Healthline

Most people are probably familiar with or have heard of Botox, but how much do you know about what it’s used for and how it works? Botox is one of several brands of injectable medicine (such as Dysport, Xeomin, and Jeuveau) that contain the molecule botulinum toxin. Botulinum toxin is a protein that is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum that has some very interesting properties. This protein has the ability to paralyze the respiratory muscles necessary to breathe. However, scientists have found ways to harvest and utilize this toxin in very small concentrations to safely treat a number of medical and cosmetic conditions such as muscle spasticity, excess sweating, wrinkles, migraines, and more. The two conditions that most commonly bring patients to dermatology offices for botulinum toxin injections are wrinkles and excessive sweating.

Dermatologists (and many other healthcare providers) offer botulinum toxin injections to prevent and reduce wrinkles. As we age, our skin becomes thinner and less elastic, creating creases in the skin that we can wrinkles. When the muscles of our face move, they scrunch up the overlying skin and decrease the appearance of wrinkles. In addition to minimizing the appearance of wrinkles that are already there, the paralysis of the muscles can also have a preventative effect by slowing down the process of wrinkles being etched into the skin in the first place. While botulinum toxin paralyzes these muscles, the paralysis doesn’t last forever. Eventually, the body breaks down the botulinum toxin and the muscles are able to move again. This typically takes around 3 to 4 months; however, the length of effect can be shorter or longer depending on the person.

The less frequent use of botulinum toxin in dermatology is for treatment of excess sweating (hyperhidrosis). Hyperhidrosis is a medical condition in which a patient has unusually high sweat production, beyond what is considered normal or appropriate for regulating body temperature. Hyperhidrosis can either be generalized, in which there is diffuse sweating all over the body, or it can be localized, in which is affects only specific locations in the body – most commonly the hands, feet, face, armpits, or groin. In the same way that botulinum toxin blocks the nerves that control the muscles, it can also block the nerves that control the sweat glands. This effect can drastically reduce the excessive sweating from hyperhidrosis and significantly improve the quality of life for patients. Just like botulinum toxin for wrinkles, the injections for hyperhidrosis will eventually wear off. The effects typically last anywhere between 4 and 12 months but will vary based on the location injected and the individual patient.

While these are the two most common uses for treating dermatologic conditions, there are many other uses for Botox in other specialties. Many studies are in the pipeline to test out new indications for the drug, and several other companies have or are bringing their own versions of botulinum toxin, be sure to visit your dermatologist to learn more about potential treatment options available.

by Michael Ryan, University of Texas Medical Branch

MAY 1, 2019

There is nothing worse than being sick while traveling, and many a travel-related illness can be avoided (or at least mitigated). Please, for the love of all things good, take it from me. I’ve been there.

The advice in this post has come from over a decade of full-time travel, often learning the hard way; lessons learned in seemingly innocuous places, as well as truly inhospitable environments. Here’s how I survived (at times, barely).

It’s all about prevention.

In this guide I lay out the exact process for staying healthy while traveling, and preventing nasty things from happening. Because when icky stuff strikes, your budget – as well as your trip – may well be blown.

So let’s make sure icky stuff doesn’t strike, shall we? Let’s get started.

MY TRAVEL MEDICAL KIT

Got a Weird Skin Thing? Here’s What to Do.

Goodness knows, over the years I’ve had a ton of weird skin things. From heat rashes, to bug bites, to allergic reactions and more, skin disturbances can range from mild to severe, and non-serious to life-threatening.

Problem is, when you’re off in the boonies somewhere you don’t speak the language, how do you know?

When I was in Australia, I got 37 spider bites in one fateful night. They looked like they were healing up nicely, until two weeks later when they exploded (literally – it was gross). I asked a pharmacist to look at the carnage; they told me I needed to go to the hospital.

I might have been able to avoid that hospital trip if I had known about Aysa.

Aysa is a free app that is built using AI and the expertise of over 47,000 physicians and nurses. It’s so simple – you just take a picture of your skin condition. The app asks a few follow up questions and gives you a list of possible conditions and treatments. While it’s not a substitute for an in-person medical diagnosis, it is a great preventative health tool that just may help you nip a skin problem in the bud – before it becomes serious.

Perhaps if I had used Aysa when I was in Australia, I’d have learned that some antibiotic cream would have prevented the all-out infection I ended up with.

Learn more ways the Professional Hobo stays healthy while traveling.

MAY 4, 2019

According to recent studies, nearly two-thirds of U.S. travelers rely on smartphone apps to enhance their travels.

• 61% have booked and paid for travel through their smartphone
• 65% want real-time flight alerts throughout the journey
• 54% prefer to use an app to add booking extras on-the-go

Would you believe I started traveling full-time before smartphones were really common? (Gosh, that dates me).

Having said that, I would be lost without my smartphone now. With all my years on the road, I’ve harnessed my smartphone to make travel easier, faster, cheaper, and more comfortable.

Here are 25 smartphone apps that have transformed travel as we know it.

On the Go Apps

Skin Condition Questions? AI-Inspired Answers with Ask Aysa

I recently discoverd this app, and now it’s on my phone both on the road and at home. Using the expertise of over 47,000 physicians and nurses along with AI technology, this app is pretty revolutionary.

On the road, it’s so easy to have a “skin thing” – be it inflammation, bumps, flakes, or something else entirely.

Is it serious or not? You sure don’t want to ruin your trip by sitting in the emergency room unnecessarily; then again you don’t want to ignore a problem that becomes serious as a result (trust me; I’ve done both).

That is where Aysa comes in. Simply take a picture of your skin condition, answer the follow up questions, and Aysa will analyze your photo and give you personalized guidance. While it’s not a diagnosis tool per se, it may help put your mind at ease, or preventatively treat a little problem before it becomes a big one (or alert you to something that may require medical attention).

It’s a great travel app, because on the road, you might not be in easy distance of medical care, or even anybody who speaks English. Aysa is my first line of defence when I have an abnormality on my skin.

ROCHESTER, NY (April 24, 2019)

In a survey of more than 1,500 U.S. millennials, 7 in 10 say skin damage is a significant concern for them. Yet when it comes to skin care and sun precautions, their everyday practices suggest a different attitude. A new poll sponsored by the developers of Aysa, an artificial intelligence-driven symptom checker app, aimed to uncover millennial attitudes and habits when it comes to protecting their skin – and here’s what it found.

Although 70% of millennials surveyed say they are concerned about skin damage from the sun, only 14% use sunscreen every day – despite the fact that sunscreen is widely known to be the best protector against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. According to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), sunscreen should be used every day, even if it is cloudy, as 80 percent of the sun’s rays can penetrate skin on those days. Nevertheless, 4 in 10 millennials surveyed only used sunscreen when they expected to be spending time in the sun. Fortunately, when millennials do use sunscreen, 78% use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher (as recommended by the AAD).

“Dermatologists are seeing a concerning rise in skin cancer among young people and continued lack of precaution,” says Dr. Art Papier, dermatologist and CEO of Aysa’s parent company, VisualDx. “Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, and melanoma rates continue to increase rapidly.” In fact, 1 in 5 Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime, and men and women with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer are at a higher risk of developing melanoma.

While 25% of millennials surveyed acknowledged a family history of skin cancer, of this group, 43% have never seen a dermatologist for a routine checkup. This is concerning because, as Dr. Papier notes, “Individuals, regardless of age, with a family history of skin cancer should be evaluated by a dermatologist and then see a dermatologist yearly for a full body scan if their risk profile is high.”

In 2017, the average wait time in metro areas to see a dermatologist for a routine skin exam was 32 days, which could explain why millennials – even those with a family history of skin cancer – are not making appointments with dermatologists. “Access is a concern in the field of dermatology,” Papier adds.

Of the millennials surveyed, 45% noted that they are prone to develop freckles and moles from sun exposure. This is a risk factor for skin cancer, and yet nearly 20% of these respondents said they do not know what an abnormal freckle or mole looks like. “Part of the reason for developing Aysa was to give individuals tools for understanding their skin issues at home,” explains Dr. Papier.

Users of the Aysa app can take or select a picture of a rash or skin lesion, and through machine learning and artificial intelligence, Aysa is able to analyze the photo and provide guidance on next steps, whether trying an over-the-counter cream or ointment, making an appointment with a dermatologist, or seeking immediate medical attention from an emergency room. Dr. Papier says, “We want to do a better job of educating people to help them make good health decisions.”

Survey Methodology

The findings are based on a Pollfish survey of more than 1,500 millennials in the United States.

The US Food and Drug Administration wants to test your sunscreen; should you be concerned?

Whether you slather on lotion or mist yourself with sprays, sunscreen is an important tool to protect your skin from the sun. This tool is actually an over-the-counter drug that the FDA regulates, and it does contain chemicals. Now, the agency wants more testing and data on what goes into your sunscreen.

What is considered safe? Should I check my label?

There are 16 active ingredients in sunscreen that the FDA can classify.¹ Two ingredients (titanium dioxide and zinc oxide) are considered safe and effective. Two others (PABA and tolamine salicylate) are not safe and effective. Don’t worry, though – you don’t have to check your sunscreen label for PABA and tolamine salicylate, because they are banned already from sunscreens sold in the United States.²

As for the other 12 ingredients, the FDA wants more information before coming to a definite conclusion, which is why they’ve proposed more testing.

If my sunscreen has any of the 12 ingredients, should I throw it out?

Absolutely not. These ingredients have been in sunscreen for years. The FDA isn’t saying those ingredients aren’t safe; the agency just wants to be thorough. In fact, in the recent proposal, the FDA recommends continuing to use the sunscreen you have.

When will this testing take place?

This is still a proposal. The FDA guidelines are open for comment until the end of May. Then, the agency has until the end of November to send the proposal to Congress. If approved, testing could take years.

What should I do in the meantime?

Practice good sun protection (American Academy of Dermatology recommendations):

• Seek shade.
• Dress to protect yourself from the sun.
• Apply sunscreen to skin that isn’t covered by clothing with SPF 30 or higher.

The American Academy of Dermatology has a number of resources for you to check out, including How to Select Sunscreen and How to Apply. If you have any other questions or concerns, check with a board-certified dermatologist.

¹US Food and Drug Administration. Sunscreen: How to help protect your skin from the sun. https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm239463.htm. Last updated February 21, 2019. Accessed April 26, 2019.

²American Academy of Dermatology. Is sunscreen safe?

https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/learn-about-skin-cancer/prevent/is-sunsceen-safe. Accessed April 26, 2019.