Finally. Tanning beds emit UV radiation and we all know that that causes skin cancer. So finally someone has come out and made it clear. UV radiation, while nowhere as destructive as Gamma radiation (in a nuclear explosion), still is strong enough to penetrate skin and cause damage to skin cells. UV radiation disrupts molecular bonds that hold DNA together, creating DNA mutation which lead to all kinds of problems, with skin cancer being the most obvious problem. And while we all know that sun can be damaging, and we all use sun protection, most people probably do not realize how powerful tanning beds can be. According to the Cancer society, artificial tanning lights can emit rays five times stronger than the midday sun.
Many young people like to look tanned without truly realizing the risks of sun tanning. Being in Plastic Surgery, I have noticed the impact the sun has on the skin. From a Plastic Surgery (Cosmetic) point of view, I am noticing a lot of young girls with aged skin that makes them look older than they are. These changes seem to become noticeable in late twenties and thirties, when suddenly these girls look 10 years older to me (the skin texture, wrinkles, moles all make them look older). How often do you see a couple where the girl seems a little older than the guy (but she isn’t)?

New Brunswick, Scotland, France, Germany and at least five Australian states have banned anyone under 18 from accessing artificial tanning equipment. In the U.S., 29 states have restrictions on youths using tanning beds, with many requiring parental consent.

Sun tanning causing skin cancer and skin aging that is abnormal. Do you want proof? Ask any older person to show you they skin on the abdomen (area that was probably protected from the sun) and compare it to their facial skin (which was probably unprotected). See the difference? I rest my case.

Martin Jugenburg,MD, FRCSC
Toronto, ON

Although Michael Jackson’s death is not related to Plastic Surgery (unless you would like to argue that all those Plastic Surgery procedures have lead him to take Propofol), it appears that once again an MD’s conduct has lead to a death. Propofol is a drug used for anesthesia, and is certainly an extreme way for someone to fight insomnia. The details of what truly happened will take time to come out. In the mean time, the issue to discuss is the fact that Michael Jackson had doctors at home that provided him with an anesthetic. Propofol is a serious drug. Did the doctor have proper safety set up at home? Was a there a mini-clinic/hospital in his house? Who was monitoring Michael after the drug was administered? Who messed up and let Michael go that deep that he stopped breathing and went unmonitored? So many questions…. and then once again it seems that when left unchecked, there are some people that take advantage of any gaps or loopholes

Martin Jugenburg,MD, FRCSC
Toronto, ON

The American Academy of Dermatology released a new statement on the issue of Vitamin D and sun tanning. After reviewing more recent evidence regarding the role of vitamin D in maintaining optimal health, they came to the following conclusion: Individuals who regularly and properly practice sun protection may be at risk for vitamin D insufficiency and may require a higher dose of vitamin D, either from dietary sources or from supplements. Because of skin cancer risk from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, AAD does not recommend unprotected exposure to radiation from the sun or from indoor tanning devices.

“The vitamin D position statement supports the Academy’s long-held conviction on safe ways to get this important vitamin — through a healthy diet which incorporates foods naturally rich in vitamin D, vitamin D-fortified foods and beverages, and vitamin D supplements,” dermatologist and AAD president David M. Pariser, MD, FAAD, said in a news release.

The AAD recommends supplementation with 200 IU vitamin D from birth to age 50 years for those who are not at increased risk for vitamin D insufficiency. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends supplementation with 400 IU vitamin D per day for children younger than 18 years of age, including infants.

Because vitamin D can be toxic in high doses, the US Food and Nutrition Board has set an upper limit for safety for vitamin D intake of 2000 IU per day for individuals older than 12 months of age and 1000 IU per day for infants.

For vitamin D supplementation, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol), which is the form of vitamin D naturally produced in the skin, is preferred to vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol).

For those out there still considering tanning salons, I will remind you that skin cancer is the most common form of cancer out there, even though breast, lung, and prostate get most of the attention. Skin cancer range in severity, with Malignant Melanoma being a very aggressive and vicious type of cancer that is very difficult to control. Most importantly, you need to remember that skin cancer is very preventable.

Finally, below is the ABC’s of melanoma:
Asymmetry
Border Irregularity
Color Variation
Diameter >6mm

Martin Jugenburg,MD, FRCSC
Toronto, ON

Surgical Scars take time to settle down. Some people expect it. Some get terrified by their appearance shortly after surgery. That is why I always warn patients: after surgery things will look pretty horrible. You’ll be bruised, swollen, and in some cases the scar itself may look pretty scary. But things WILL settle down, given enough time. As seen on the picture to the left, the day after surgery things look aweful. But three months later, you can barely see the scar. These pictures are not photoshoped or altered in any way.

Martin Jugenburg,MD, FRCSC
Toronto, ON