Skin care and skin cancer prevention!

“Let the sun shine in…” Is not only a hit song from the musical “Hair,” it’s also what we all look forward to in May! But like all good things, too much can be bad. May is Melanoma Prevention Month and so here are some great tips (courtesy of the Skin Cancer Foundation) for you to enjoy the sun and stay healthy!

• Seek the shade, especially between 10 AM and 4 PM when the sun is strongest. An extra rule of thumb is the "shadow rule." If your shadow is shorter than you are, the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation is stronger; if your shadow is longer, UV radiation is less intense;
• Do not burn. A person's risk for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, doubles if he or she had had five or more sunburns at any point in life. Severe burns not only significantly increase your chances of developing skin cancer, but can make you ill. For severe burns, see your doctor;
• Avoid tanning and UV tanning booths. UV radiation from tanning machines is known to cause cancer in humans. Indoor UV tanners are 74 percent more likely to develop melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, than those who have never tanned indoors. Tanning bed users are also 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma. The more time a person has spent tanning indoors, the higher the risk;
• Cover up with clothing, including a broad-brimmed hat and UV-blocking sunglasses. Clothing can be your most effective form of sun protection, so make the most of it with densely woven and bright- or dark-colored fabrics, which offer the best defense.
• Apply 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside. Reapply every two hours or immediately after swimming or excessive sweating. One six-ounce bottle of sunscreen should provide two full days of sun protection for prolonged outdoor activity; and
• Examine your skin head-to-toe every month. While self-exams shouldn't replace the important annual skin exam performed by a physician, they offer the best chance of detecting the early warning signs of skin cancer. If you notice any change in an existing mole or discover a new one that looks suspicious, see a physician immediately. To find out more about how to perform self-examination and spot a skin cancer, visit www.SkinCancer.org/selfexamination.

Being outdoors and active is always great for the body and by utilizing these tips you will be on your way to a fun and healthy summer! Be sure to visit avecinia for a great selection of UV blocking SPF products such as Obagi NuDerm SPF 50 and our selection of Colorescience Pro Mineral Makeup and save 15% this month in honor of Melanoma Prevention Month. 

Sign up for our pre-Mother’s Day event on May 10th to learn even more about skin care and anti-aging and save on all of our great skin care and anti-aging products and services!

This blog was written by Dania Abdul-Resoul, an intern at avecinia wellness center.  Dania is a pre-physical therapy student at Cal State Fresno.
For daily updates on news, information and more on health care and wellness, join avecinia wellness center's facebook page and follow avecinia on twitter . avecinia wellness center is Fresno's premier integrative medicine and wellness center. We combine internal medicine and primary care with health management, weight management, acupuncture, aesthetics (Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Obagi and more) and massage therapy for a holistic approach to health. We use a robust electronic health record program and patient web portal to enhance our delivery of services and to help our patients reach their optimal well-being. To learn more, visit www.avecinia.com. If you are looking for a primary care doctor in Fresno or the Central Valley and would like to become a part of the avecinia family, visit our website and click on new patient registration. Let Dr. Unaiza Hayat and/or Ali Kunkel, MPA, PA-C, become your trusted guides. Our Aesthetic, Weight Management, Acupuncture, Health Management and Massage Therapy services do not require us to be your primary care physician. Learn more at www.avecinia.com.We look forward to meeting you!

Beauty Isn't Just Skin Deep!

What is between 16 and 21 feet,  hosts up to 50 million different living organisms and some parts regenerate every 27 days?  Your skin! 

Your skin is one of your most vital organs. It protects your inner organs from radiation, bacteria, and other harmful agent.  It reflects your physiological and psychological health, and can be the difference between a bad day, a good day and a great day.

The two most common skin problems, acne (both pubescent and adult) and sun damage/aging (wrinkles, discoloration, sunspots, cancer) have been around since the beginning of time. So have various skin protection and healing remedies.  Ancient Egyptians used soaps made from animal oil, vegetable oil and salts.  Fenugreek was used to create soothing face masks and Cleopatra used to bathe in milk to help exfoliate and rejuvenate her skin.  In ancient Greece, masks of honey were used to treat acne. Today, you can buy or make many of these ancient remedies or turn on the television to see the latest therapy.

What causes Acne?

Acne is a part of the normal pubescent experience. Some teens exhibit more acne than others because their body is creating more of the oils that trap bacteria (P.Acnes) residing in hair follicles in the skin.   This trapped bacteria continues to grow and produces the pimples, blackheads and whiteheads.  In much the same way, almost 50% of adult women and 25% of adult men experience acne as well.  A hormonal change, such as when starting a birth control pill, hormone imbalance due to stress and/or poor nutrition, or other factors are usually related to an increase in acne.  It’s important to remember though that there is no direct relationship between the food you eat and acne.  However, because the skin is the bodies largest organ, eating well keeps your skin healthy, just like any other organ.

Treating Acne!

Having acne can be stressful, treating it doesn’t have to be.  Once the root cause of acne is identified, treating it can be as simple as following the right plan for you.  Because acne starts by bacteria being collected deep in hair follicle roots, it’s important that any acne treatment utilized is able to penetrate deeply into the skin to get to this bacteria.   The next important step is to help the skin control how much oil is produced/applied and trapped on the skin.  The sebaceous glands produce oil and overactive ones produce more.  In some cases, certain cosmetics include excess oil that is then trapped in follicles as well.  A good cleanser can help control how much oil is present on the skins surface and how much gets trapped in the hair follicles.  However, you don’t want  a cleanser that simply over dries your skin. Oils are essential to helping your skin look and feel healthy.

I look too old for my age!

If acne isn’t the issue but skin discoloration, sunspots and the appearance of fine lines and the development of wrinkles has you looking and feeling older than you are, then you may need something to help heal your skin.   If you spend a lot of time in sun, like to tan (outdoors or in a sun tanning bed), live in an area with poor air quality or a lot of pollution or smoke, free radicals associated with these environmental factors accelerate the skin’s aging process.  Free radicals are unstable molecules that attack nearby stable molecules to steal their electrons.  By stealing electrons, they create more unstable molecules, thus, for example in your skin, break down the collagen in your skin that normally gives you that youthful resilience.  Normally your body can develop anti-oxidants to help control free radicals but when excessive environmental factors overwhelm your system, your body needs help. 

Nature to the rescue!

One effective, natural way to battle excessive free radicals and the damage they cause is using Vitamin C.  Not only is Vitamin C a powerful antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals, it is crucial to the production of collagen and therefore helps produce collagen where it has broken down. 

Sure you can eat a lot of Oranges to get your Vitamin C, but in order to effectively treat and reverse the breakdown of collagen and its effects on the skin, you have to be able to apply Vitamin C directly to the skin and let it be absorbed.  The best type of Vitamin C for this is stabilized ascorbic acid (you can tell how stable a Vitamin C serum is by seeing how quickly it oxidizes or becomes brown and crusty near the containers opening).  Serums can come in concentrations from 5% to 20%, with 5% being ideal for sensitive areas and 20% being the most effective at reducing brown spots, discoloration, fine lines and other signs of damage caused by free radicals.

How can avecinia wellness center help you?

We have developed two new services to help you address acne or the early signs of aging:

“Clear” is a combination therapy designed to diagnose and treat the cause of Acne.  We start with a 30 minute consultation session to understand your diet and nutrition habits and determine whether their might be an hormonal issue to address.  Then you get a combination treatment of 3 Obagi Radiance Treatments and a 3 month supply of Obagi Clenziderm Acne Treatment.  The Radiance and Clenziderm treatment work together to cleanse your skin of dead skin and bacteria and get you back on track to clear, smooth skin.  

“Glow” is a combination therapy designed to refresh and revitalize your skin. We start with 3 Obagi Radiance peels and a 20% Obagi Professional-C Serum.  Obagi’s Professional- C  Serum is rated by Allure as a “Beauty Best Buy” and is consistently rated as one of the best Vitamin C Serums available.  Obagi’s Professional C-Serum is specifically designed to be more stable and penetrate deeper into your skin to help reduce the visible and not so visible signs of aging.  The “Glow” package also comes with Obagi’s new SPF 50 sun protection moisturizer to help you protect your new, refreshed skin.  The sun screen protects you from both UVA and UVB particles as the Professional C Serum corrects damage caused by free radicals and repairs collagen.

Call us today to come in and find out what may work best for you!  Starting a healthy skin care regimen now can get you the healthy, beautiful skin you want before the summer!

Visit our website at www.avecinia.com to see our prices and our sales.  Call us today to make an appointment and be ready for a beautiful new you for the summer! This article was reviewed by Dr. Unaiza Hayat, MD.


For daily updates on news, information and more on health care and wellness, join avecinia wellness center's facebook page (facebook.com/avecinia) and follow avecinia on twitter (twitter.com/avecinia4health). avecinia wellness center is Fresno's premier integrative medicine and wellness center. We combine internal medicine and primary care with health management, weight management, acupuncture, aesthetics (Botox, Juvederm, Radiesse, Obagi and more) and massage therapy for a holistic approach to health. We use a robust electronic health record program and patient web portal to enhance our delivery of services and to help our patients reach their optimal well-being. To learn more, visit www.avecinia.com. If you are looking for a primary care doctor in Fresno or the Central Valley and would like to become a part of the avecinia family, visit our website and click on new patient registration. Let Dr. Unaiza Hayat and/or Ali Kunkel, MPA, PA-C, become your trusted guides. Our Aesthetic, Weight Management, Acupuncture, Health Management and Massage Therapy services do not require us to be your primary care physician. Learn more at www.avecinia.com We look forward to meeting you!

Skin Care

Skin Care
Your skin reflects your health. It is your body’s canvas and one of its most valuable assets. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle habits can help prevent many skin problems and delay the natural aging process. It’s the only skin you’ll ever get, so your daily habits mean everything. With proper skin care, your skin can stay fresh as you age. Follow the tips below and keep your skin healthy and glowing for the years to come.

Protect yourself from the sun
One of the most important ways to care for your skin is to protect it from the sun. Although sunlight helps your body make Vitamin D, which is important for good health, too much sunlight can be harmful. The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Lifetime sun exposure can cause dry, rough skin, discoloration, age spots, freckles, wrinkles, moles and more serious problems, such as precursors to and/or skin cancer.

Understanding how the sun is damaging to the skin is important and worth knowing. There are main 2 types of UV radiation: UVB and UVA. Although both are contribute to the risk of developing skin cancer, UVB rays causes sunburns and UVA rays causes tanning and aging. Sun protection recommendations include:

•Avoid the sun between 10 AM and 4 PM. This is when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

•Wear protective clothing. Cover your skin with tightly woven long-sleeved shirts and pants. Shade your face by wearing wide-brimmed hats and protect your eyes with sun glasses that are UV-blocking. Dark colored clothing generally provides more protection than light colors. There is even special sun-protective clothing specially designed to block UV rays while keeping you comfortable and cool. This clothing will have a label listing UV protection factor (UPF) value on a scale from 15-50+, indicating the level of protection the garment provides. The higher the UPF, the higher the protection.

•Use sunscreen. Apply generous amounts of “broad-spectrum” sunscreen 30 minutes prior going outdoors and reapply every 2 hours or after swimming or heavy sweating. Use sunscreen that have a sun protection factor (SPF) greater than 15 and that have both UVA and UVB protection. SPF indicates protection against UVB rays only. “Broad-spectrum” protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, but, unfortunately, there is no standard system for measuring protection from UVA at this time. Products that contain titanium dioxide, avobenzone (Parsol 1789), zinc oxide or ecamsule are likely to be effective against both UVA and UVB. Remember to always check the expiration date on the sunscreen container to be sure that it is still effective. Most products are no longer effective after 2 to 3 years. Also, “waterproof” and “water resistant” products do rub off on your towel when you dry yourself, so reapply. We carry Obagi SPF 35 and Vivite SPF 30 sunscreen. Both offer UVA and UVB protection and are highly recommended. For a limited time, both are only $30. Don’t forget lip balm that contains SPF to protect your lips and apply sunscreen to your ears!

•Avoid tanning beds. The give out both UVA and UVB rays.

Take note that UV rays reach the ground throughout the year, even on cloudy days. UV rays passes through water, so even if you feel cool in the pool, you aren’t safe. Sunlight also reflects off sand and snow and increases the amount of UV radiation you receive, so be careful at the beach and in the snow.


Avoid smoking
Smoking contributes to wrinkles and makes your skin look older. Smoking decreases blood flow to your skin by narrowing blood vessels, depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients and damages elastin and collagen. When these fibers breakdown, the skin begins to sag, stretch and lose its ability to go back into place. Smoking may contribute to wrinkles by the repetitive facial expressions of squinting your eyes and pursing your lips. If you already have fine lines developing, Obagi’s NuDerm system may help you combat them. Fine lines around the lips can be reduced with Vivite’s defining lip plumper. If you would like to quit smoking or know someone who does, make an appointment with Avecinia Wellness Center for our Smoking Cessation program.

Treat your skin gently
Properly cleanse your skin. If you wear makeup, be sure to remove all traces of it at the end of the day. Integrate a proper skin care routine into your day early. While you can’t replace the skin you have, you can nourish and pamper it to protect it for the future. The Obagi C-Rx System and the Vivite Vibrant System are excellent facial regimens we offer at the office.

Limit bath time. Long baths/showers and hot water remove oils from your skin. Use luke warm water rather than hot water when you bathe.

Avoid strong soaps that strip oil from your skin. Instead, use mild cleansers.

Gently pat dry after bathing with a soft towel and apply moisturizer when your skin is slightly damp for better absorption.

Manage stress
Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and prone to acne breakouts and other skin problems. A healthy state of mind will aid in healthier skin, so take steps to manage stress. Set reasonable goals and limits, prioritize and scale back your to-do list and make time for activities you enjoy. If you do have breakouts or acne problems, try Obagi CLENziderm system; it is currently 25% off the regular price.

Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet will help you feel and look your best. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, lean proteins and whole grains. Although the association of diet and acne is unclear, research suggests a diet low in fats and carbohydrates and rich in Vitamin C promotes younger looking skin.

Stay hydrated
You should drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day to stay hydrated and to provide your skin with vital moisture from the inside.