Working in medicine, specifically dermatology, we know there is no such thing as a ''healthy tan.'' When it comes to educating younger generations, I wish the effects of sun were immediate. I wish when a young girl stepped out of the tanning bed she saw dark spots, wrinkles and skin cancers forming on the body. Only then might ...

As the universities and secondary schools are preparing for spring break, it is important that we are educated and educate our young patients on the dangers of ultraviolet exposure. I am going to focus this blog more specifically towards the use of tanning beds. As a dermatology specialist and a parent, I find it unconscionable that ...

You don't have to break the law to fail a pre-employment drug test. In fact, you could lose your job just by using countless products hanging on the wall of your local gas station. That's because at my hospital, when an employee's urine drops into that little plastic device during a pre-employment drug screen, it is checked for ...

Consider this post ''part II'' in response to faithful reader of our student blog, Mark Behar of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His comment challenged me to follow up on the use of odors and smells to diagnose, or at least give us clues to how best to treat our patients' underlying pathologies. I can't refuse a good challenge. Thanks, Mark, ...

  (Above) Heart-shaped pigmented Basal Cell Carcinoma on the back of a 71-year-old male.   (Above) Heart-shaped Actintic Keratosis on the left forearm of an 88-year-old male.   (Above) Heart-shaped squamous cell carcinoma on the lower leg of a 73-year-old male with a history of previous skin cancers.   (Above and ...

If I could give any future medical student advice about the ER, my three most important words would be: Vicks Vapor Rub. When I first entered the ER, I was prepared to be jaded, but I was not prepared for the smells: abscesses, STDs, rotten teeth, body odor, mildewed t-shirts, alcoholics, chain smokers, drug-addicts, and diarrhea diapers, to ...

Teens and adults suffer from acne due to hormone fluctuations and stress. Some feel diet may play a role. These factors stimulate sebaceous glands that causes the oil production that the P. acne live on. Most patients have tried a variety of over-the-counter acne remedies before they get to our clinic.  Acne can range from mild ...

Tired of buying over the counter products that just don't work? So are patients! One of my passions for what I do is finding just the fix for someone -- something that will work and improve their condition. Pharmacy aisles and mall cosmetic counters are now flooded with an overwhelming quantity of products of varying ...

''Mr. Lee'' is a 35-year old Asian male with HTN, HLP and DMII who had s/p stent placement in his LAD two years ago. He has stopped taking simvastatin, lisinopril, Metformin and aspirin, does not exercise, continues to smoke, and does not check his blood glucose at home. Despite adequate amounts of patient education (and a psych evaluation), ...

Was it losing weight? Spending more time with your family? Dragging your body to the gym? Reading more books? When's the last year you set a new year's resolution? And how far did you get before you broke it? And why are you so discouraged about trying again in 2013? We students in the medical field are required to study behavior change ...