Monthly Archives: August 2013

Indoor tanning among white, non-Hispanic
women is on the rise.
In a survey  of 2527 non-Hispanic white 
females age 14 to 18 years, 29% stated 
they were using tanning salons and 17% 
of them stated they were tanning 
frequently. In this age group, the frequency
of tanning increased with age.

In a survey of 1857 non-Hispanic white females
age 18 to 34 years, 25% stated 
they were using tanning, 16% of them frequently. However, 
in this age group, the prevalence and frequency of
tanning decreased with age.

Indoor tanning before age 35 increases non-melanoma skin
cancer risk by up to 75%, and indoor tanning before age 25
increases the non-melanoma skin cancer risk up to 102%.

As to Melanoma skin cancer, the prevalence is
increasing, especially in young 
non-Hispanic women. However, precise prevalence 
data are limited.

It has been a few years since the World Health Organization
has classified tanning as a class 1 carcinogen. Nevertheless,
the majority of the populations
are unaware of this, and the tanning industry is 
thriving to the tune of billions 
of dollars annually.

Do not be fooled by the tanning industry's claims,
because there is no 
such thing as a "safe tan". 
JAMA Internal Medicine August 13, 2013.

A recent study demonstrated that 46% of patients with Rosacea (including 4 with treatment resistant ocular rosacea) had  Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO) as opposed to 23%  in the general population. This condition was diagnosed by a simple breath test (Lactulose Breath test).
Rosacea patients were treated with an antibiotic (Rifaximin) which remains in the intestine and is not absorbed.
Complete resolution of symptoms occurred in all 4 patients with ocular rosacea as well 78% patients with facial rosacea.
The authors recommend a larger study of facial and ocular rosacea, chcking for SIBO and its treatment with Rifaximin, be done in a Dermatology Clinic.
(Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, May 2013)