May: Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month and a great time to remind ourselves about how important it is to protect our skin from the sun.  Unprotected skin can be damaged by the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays.  You need protection even if it's cool and cloudy.  Clouds do not block UV rays; they filter them and only slightly at that.
Everyone should use a daily sunscreen, and Dr. Moravec recommends a physical filter sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15 and protection from both UVA and UVB sun rays.  Look for ingredients Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.  They protect by staying on top of the skin and act as a barrier to the sun's damaging rays.  These two products are great for those people who do not like to "feel" the product on their skin or are prone to breakouts.
If you have any suspicious-looking spots, you should check with your primary care doctor or
Dr. Moravec.

Spring Seminar

Enjoy and Learn What's New!
    Our spring seminar at the Facial Surgery Center will be Tuesday, March 20 from 7-8:30 p.m.  It's a round table discussion about the latest ways to enhance your skin's appearance.  This format provides the opportunity to ask individual questions in an informal environment, and you'll see an alpha hydroxy peel demonstrated.
    We'll have refreshments and free skin care samples for all participants.  So mark your calendars now for a fun and informative evening.
    Seating is limited so please call our office at (513) 772-2442 to let us know you and your friends are coming.

Coffee May Help Reduce Risk for Skin Cancer

A report in the January, 2012 issue of DaySpa reflects results of studies at the Mayo Clinic and Harvard and Vanderbilt Universities.  These studies show that people who drank 3 cups of coffee a day were less likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.  (Basal cell carcinoma is the most common and least invasive form of skin cancer.)  Women who participated in the study showed a 20 percent risk reduction while men in the study had a 9 percent risk reduction.  The analysis was based on a population of 113,000 between 1984 and 2008.  Researchers compared the amount of coffee consumed with the rate of basal cell carcinoma.  Coffee is reported to be high in free radical-fighting antioxidants.  According to the report, this benefit just might help minimize the development of basal cell skin cancer!