Several providers at South Shore Skin Center and Spa, one of the most progressive dermatology practices in Massachusetts with offices in Plymouth and Cohasset, have recently obtained additional certification and training.

Lori Skinner, RN, BSN, Cosmetic Nurse Specialist at South Shore Skin Center and Spa recently attended the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery (ASLMS) Annual Conference held in Grapevine, Texas and received additional certification in laser treatments. Ms. Skinner’s primary clinical focus at the practice is laser treatments which she uses to treat sun damaged skin, acne scarring and spider veins and to remove brown spots and tattoos. She also performs XTRAC Excimer laser treatments for patients with vitiligo and psoriasis.

Mary Rico, a Medical Assistant and Licensed Medical Esthetician whose primary focus is cosmetic dermatology, in particular Thermage, laser hair removal, facials, microdermabrasion and chemical peels, recently attended the Face and Body Midwest Conference in Chicago. Ms. Rico received education in oncology aesthetics – how to care for cancer patients’ sensitive skin before and after radiation and chemotherapy treatments.

LeNae Richard, a Medical Assistant and Licensed Medical Esthetician who cares for both medical and cosmetic dermatology patients at South Shore Skin Center and Spa, recently attended the International Congress of Esthetics and Spa in Miami and received education in Laser Hair Removal technology.

DATELINE: CAPE COD, COHASSET AND PLYMOUTH, MASS…

Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, RN, MSN, Executive Director of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation (Hingham, MA) was on hand at South Shore Skin Center and Spa's recent Skin Cancer Screening taking high definition profile photos with the Glow Vista Skin Analyzer which showed attendees the extent of their skin's UV damage.

During National Melanoma/Skin Cancer Awareness Month (May), the dermatologists at South Shore Skin Center and Spa spotted several potential cases of melanoma during their free Skin Cancer Screening clinic held at their Plymouth practice.

According to Dr. Richard F. Eisen, Board Certified Dermatologist and Founding Physician/Director of South Shore Skin Center, who took part in the screenings that evening, “Melanoma is rising rapidly in New England and in particular in the South Shore area. At our recent screening, we diagnosed one severe case of melanoma and three potential new melanoma cases which may be confirmed cases after biopsy.”

100 people from the South Shore and Plymouth areas attended the free screening evening. The event was a collaboration between Jordan Hospital Club Cancer Center and South Shore Skin Center and Spa and supported by the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Cancer Society.

Many who attended had fair skin and/or had never had their skin checked before.

South Shore Skin Center and Spa providers who were screening patients along with Dr. Eisen included Dr. Ramzi W. Saad (partner at South Shore Skin Center and organizer of the annual screening event), Dr. Emily P. Tierney, Dr. Barry M. Austin, Dr. William W. Stocker, Jessica L. Bahros PA-C, Elizabeth J. McLeish PA-C and Vanessa H. Pollard PA-C. Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, RN, MSN, Executive Director of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation was also on hand with the Glow Vista Skin Analyzer taking high definition profile photos which showed attendees the extent of their skin’s UV damage.

“New England has the highest concentration of melanoma cases in the United States. It is the most common cancer in young white women ages 25-29 and second only to breast cancer in women ages 30-34. This is the first time we have seen such a significant number of cases at a screening of 100 people. It is an indication of just how common and serious skin cancers are. It cannot be stressed enough – the way to minimize melanoma mortality is to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays, to carefully perform monthly self-skin examinations and to obtain a skin cancer screening annually,” noted Dr. Saad.

South Shore Skin Center and Spa tips for preventing skin cancer:

• Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
• Avoid sunlamps and tanning beds.
• Use ample amounts of sunscreen with a minimum SPF 30 every day, even if it is cloudy.
• Wear protective clothing and large framed or wrap-around sunglasses to protect the eye area.
• Have your skin checked by a dermatologist regularly.
• Note any moles or other spots on the skin that have changed. Have them checked by a physician as soon as possible.

For concerns about the skin, contact South Shore Skin Center and Spa’s Plymouth

(508) 747-0711 or Cohasset (781) 383-3340 dermatology office.

DATELINE: COHASSET AND PLYMOUTH, MASS…

Every time we go outdoors, we’re exposed to Ultraviolet (UV) rays and the repeated exposure builds over time. The delicate skin of babies and toddlers is particularly susceptible to sunburn and UV damage.

According to Dr. Ramzi W. Saad, Board Certified dermatologist and partner at South Shore Skin Center and Spa, “UV damage can happen at any age, but it begins to occur during childhood. The more frequent the exposure to Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) rays without protection, the greater the risk of developing melanoma or skin cancer as an adult. Parents and caregivers are responsible for protecting the very young, so knowing HOW to best protect them is key.”

The dermatologists at South Shore Skin Center and Spa provide the following expert advice to parents and caregivers for protecting the skin of very young children from harmful UVA/UVB rays from the sun (which are present even on cloudy days):

1. Apply a chemical-free sunscreen containing an SPF 30 or higher. Sunscreen may be applied to babies older than six months and toddlers. Look for products that are chemical free and have 10 percent micronized Zinc Oxide such as Blue Lizard Australian Sunscreen Baby SPF 30+ or Solbar Shield SPF 40.
2. Dress young children in sun protective clothing. Covering up the skin with clothing is one of the most effective ways of protecting the sensitive skin of babies and toddlers. Sun hats with wide brims and flaps to shade ears and neck, lightweight long sleeved shirts, sun rompers and swim bodysuits provide good coverage. Brands such as Coolibar offer 50+ UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) clothing. Other sun protective clothing brands may be found online or at retailer REI.
3. Sunglasses help protect the delicate eye area. Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the body, including eyelids. Because sunscreen cannot be applied on or around the eyes, it’s important to shield the eye area from UV rays. For young children, opt for rubber or flexible frames and shatterproof lenses. To ensure that lenses provide UVA/UVB protection, look for the statement “100% UVA/UVB protection” label on the lense when making your purchase.
4. Seek shade. Shady areas not only offer some cool relief on a hot summer day, but some protection from UV rays.
5. Block UVA/UVB rays in babies younger than six months. Sunscreen should not be applied to babies younger than six months of age, yet exposed skin is left vulnerable without sunscreen. So, how do you protect your baby’s skin from UV rays? Follow tips 2, 3 and 4.

Dr. Saad continued, “As children become more independent, parents and caregivers have a greater challenge of ensuring their tweens and teens wear sunscreen every day, seek shade and wear protective clothing. That is one reason why it is imperative that children learn ‘sun safe’ habits at a very young age because they will have a better understanding of the importance of protecting their skin as they grow older.”

Melanoma is the most common cancer in young white women ages 25-29 and second only to breast cancer in women ages 30-34. New England has the highest concentration of melanoma cases in the United States.

“It cannot be stressed enough that one of the key ways to minimize melanoma mortality is to protect the skin from UVA and UVB rays, starting in early childhood,” noted Dr. Saad.

About South Shore Skin Center and Spa

South Shore Skin Center and Spa is one of Massachusetts’ most progressive dermatology practices offering a wide range of medical, surgical and cosmetic services.

Founded in 1984, South Shore Skin Center and Spa is a unique team of physicians, physician assistants, nurses, medical assistants, surgical assistants, and licensed estheticians who are all specialists in dermatology and share a passion for excellence and a commitment to providing the highest level of care to both children and adults in the greater Boston area. In addition to the medical dermatology office and Mohs Surgical Unit for skin cancer, South Shore Skin Center and Spa offers cosmetic dermatology treatments for wrinkles, age spots, acne scarring, birthmarks, hair removal, tattoos and more using the Fraxel re:store DUAL and Fraxel re:pair lasers, DEKA SmartXide DOT, Candela VBeam, Gentlelase, Gentle YAG, and Alex lasers. The practice also offers a full range of affordable anti-aging services including Botox, Restylane, Perlane, Juvederm and other wrinkle fillers; volumizers such as Radiesse and Sculptra; microdermabrasion; medical grade facials, micropeels and chemical peels.

South Shore Skin Center and Spa is located at One Scobee Circle, Unit 3, in Plymouth, Mass. (508) 747-0711 and at 223 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Suite 202, in Cohasset, Mass. (781) 383-3340. For more information, visit the website at www.southshoreskincenter.com

Wednesday November 10th from 6-8 PM in Plymouth, MA.

Join us to learn about cosmetic treatments such as Sculptra, Dermaplaning, Fraxel and Botox. Find out more about advanced skin care products. RSVP to Cheryl Packard at 508-503-8531

Vanessa Pollard, a Board Certified Physician Assistant at South Shore Skin Center, received training certification from Candela Laser and is now accepting patients for Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) and Laser Hair Removal treatments.

To schedule an appointment with Vanessa at our Cosmetic Dermatology Spa in Plymouth, call (508) 747-0711.

The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation of Hingham and South Shore Skin Center teamed up at the Special Olympics held last week at Weymouth High School to educate children and their families about skin cancer prevention and sun safety.

Armed with one gallon of Blue Lizard sunscreen, Don’t Fry Day handouts and knowledge to share, Mimi Svenning, Assistant Director of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation and Lori Skinner, RN of South Shore Skin Center who is a board member of Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation, educated attendees on proper sunscreen application and ways to protect themselves in the sun.

This sun safety and skin cancer prevention event at the Special Olympics was part of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation’s Don’t Fry Day line-up of events. Don’t Fry Day is an initiative sponsored by the National Council of Skin Cancer Prevention (NCSCP) meant to raise awareness of sun safety. According to Skinner, “I was so pleased to be able to educate parents about proper sunscreen use. There are a lot of misconceptions about sunscreen efficacy. I was able to teach many parents about sunscreen key ingredients and that it needs to be reapplied every two hours despite the SPF.”

One of the teachers at the Special Olympics commented that it was fortunate that Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation tent was on hand, as many children and adults needed to reapply sunscreen throughout the day. “Our mission is to teach children and their caretakers about prevention and early detection of skin cancer. We must remember that skin cancer is the most common of all cancers and that one person dies every hour from this preventable and easily recognizable disease,” explained Maryellen Maguire-Eisen, RN, MSN, Director of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation.

Dr. Richard Eisen, M.D., dermatologist at South Shore Skin Center and Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation Medical Director said, “This was the second annual Don’t Fry Day and we made it our business to get out into the community to teach the public about skin cancer prevention.”

About Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation

The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation established in 2003 to deliver a comprehensive sun safety and melanoma awareness program, free of charge, to school children in Massachusetts.

The Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation was created to aggressively focus attention on the need to teach prevention or sun protection to children and their caregivers. The foundation’s SunAWARE Program is delivered primarily to children in elementary and high schools and teaches both skin cancer prevention and early detection. A “Don’t Fry Day” handout is available on their website.

781-875-1SPF (1773) or www.melanomaprevention.org.

South Shore Skin Center

South Shore Skin Center is a progressive dermatology practice offering a wide range of medical, surgical and cosmetic services. The practice has attained and maintained an “A” rating on Angies List Health.

Dr. Tierney will also care for medical and cosmetic dermatology patients and provide a wide range of cosmetic treatments. She will also consult with patients on anti-aging treatments. Dr. Tierney completed her dermatology residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and her Mohs surgical and procedural dermatology fellowship at the Laser and Skin Surgery Center of Indiana She is a graduate of Stanford University School of Medicine and is currently a dermatologist on staff at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth as well as the Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Mohs Micrographic Surgery at Boston University School of Medicine. She has received many honors and awards over the years and most recently received the Richard B. Aronsohn, M.D. Founder’s Award for the American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery.