Belaray Dermatology – Jericho, Plainview, Long Island, NY

Memorial Day weekend has arrived, and many of you will be venturing to the beach.  You already know to bring the basics – hat, umbrella, sunscreen, sun protective clothing, a sun protective shelter, and to try to avoid the peak ours of UV radiation intensity (10am-4pm).  But did you remember to bring the Baby Powder (See all Baby Powders).  Why you ask?

There is nothing more frustrating than the difficulty in getting sand off your skin when you are ready to go home.  It can both make a mess, and cause friction and blisters on the skin.  One of the best ways to remove it is to use a nice baby powder after drying off.  Once you give it a try – you will never want to go to the beach again without it.  I guarantee it!

Have a great summer – and remember to be sun smart!

Mohs surgery is done in our office using a local anesthetic. During Mohs surgery, a thin layer of tissue is removed and examined for cancer.  Dr. Jeffrey Ellis repeats the process as many times as necessary until the cancer cells are gone.

Multiple lesions can be done in one surgical session. Reconstruction (if needed) is routinely performed the same day, usually by Dr. Jeffrey Ellis or Dr. Rachel Ellis who specializes in Oculoplastic and Facial Reconstruciton.  When necessary reconstruction can also be coordinated with the help of other surgical specialists.

Click Here for our Mohs Surgery Animation

Mohs surgery is available in our Plainview office, and is performed by Dr. Jeffrey Ellis a fellowship-trained member of the American College of Mohs Surgery.

Mohs Micrographic Surgery  is an advanced treatment for skin cancer that offers the highest cure rate – even if the skin cancer has been previously treated by another procedure. Mohs Micrographic Surgery is a state-of-the-art treatment in which the physician serves as surgeon, pathologist and reconstructive surgeon. It relies on the ability of a microscope to trace out and ensure removal of the skin cancer’s roots. This procedure allows physicians who have completed a fellowship in Mohs surgery to see beyond the visible disease and to precisely identify and remove the entire tumor, leaving healthy tissue intact and unharmed. Mohs surgery is most often used to treat two of the most common forms of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, however it is also an effective treatment for other types of skin cancer.
Clinical studies have shown that the cure rate for Mohs Micrographic Surgery is the highest of all treatments for previously untreated basal cell carcinoma – 99 percent – and 95 percent for recurrent basal cell carcinomas. As the most exact and precise method of tumor removal, this procedure minimizes the chance of recurrence and decreases the potential for scarring or disfigurement. As such, Mohs surgery offers the highest potential for complete removal of the cancer, while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.

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Now that spring is near, it is a great time to go out and clean up the yard.  Spring and Fall are also the most common times we see lots of patients suffering with poison ivy.  If you are going to work in an area with suspected poison ivy, there are some simple steps you can take to avoid the rash.

1. BEFORE going to the area with suspected poison ivy, apply a product called Ivy Block.  This product is very effective at neutralizing the chemical that is responsible for poison ivy/oak.
2. Be sure to keep all exposed areas covered.  Tuck pants into socks.  Wear gloves.  Etc.  After returning, be sure to change all clothing, and wash skin well with soap and water.
3. If you do get poison ivy, please call us right away.  Many times we can abort a severe attack if treated promptly.  We will always do our very best to see you as soon as possible.

Here are some myths that you may find useful about poison ivy.

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We are proud to announce that Plainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School has joined our Skin Cancer Awareness Honor Roll.  Jennifer Gewant, Community Service Representative for the Student’s Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club, has started raising awareness about skin cancer prevention and money for skin cancer research.  She is helping to distribute our ‘Sun Smart Skin Safe’ bracelets, and will also be writing an article discussing sun safety for her school paper.  Bracelets are being sold for $3 each, or 4 for $10.  100% of the money raised will be donated to the Melanoma Research Foundation. Below is some literature that Jennifer is distributing to her classmates to help give them the knowledge to make smart decisions about sun safety.

We work hard to create a relaxing and welcoming atmosphere in the office, and one of the ways we do it is through careful selection of music that we think you will enjoy while you visit.  Many patients ask for information about our music selection, so we wanted to share with you  “Belaray Dermatology Radio” via Pandora so you can listen to our favorite tunes whenever you feel so inspired.

We hope you enjoy!

Dr. Amy Slear discusses in Newsday Article March 1, 2011 various options when treating acne.

Dr. Jeffrey Ellis appeared tonight on LI Talks, News 12 with Lea Tyrrell to discuss and debate safety of indoor tanning with Joseph Levy, the executive director of International Smart Tan Network – a lobby for the indoor tanning association.  The discussion was prompted by the American Academy of Pediatrics recent position statement to ban minors from tanning.

The International Smart Tan Network would like you to believe that developing a tan is an intelligent way to minimize risk of sunburn.  It is NOT.  The Indoor Tanning Association has been cited by the FTC for making false claims related to the safety of tanning.  A tan gives you an SPF of 3 while causing DNA damage.  Tanning intensity and time regulation are poorly enforced by facility staff with 95% of tanners exceeding time limits and 83% of tanning booths producing more UVB than standards allow.

Here are the facts:

1. The World Health Organization categorizes tanning beds as a carcinogen
2. The International Agency for Research on Cancer categorizes tanning beds as a carcinogen to humans
3. The American Medical Association, American Academy of Dermatology, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all recognize the dangers associated with tanning beds, and have position statements to limit access to younger children
4. The risk of melanoma is increased by 75% when exposure to tanning beds occurs before the age of 30 (Lancet Oncology 2009)
5. In the population based Skin Health Study, researchers found that people who used tanning beds often were 2.5-3x more likely to develop melanoma thana person who never tanned indoors
6. The Australian Melanoma Family Study identified 76% of the melanoma in patients between the ages of 18-39 were attributed to tanning bed use

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Dr. Jeffrey Ellis, Dermatologist in Plainview Long Island discusses scars and treatment options in Newsday Article, February 8, 2011.

Scars form in different ways and develop from different causes.  Acne, burns, surgery, trauma or even tattoos and body piercings can result in scars.  Some scars are depressed (ie:  acne scars) while others are raised (ie: keloids).  There are many options available for our patients with scarring, and we offer some unique and specialized techniques to help improve your scar.  For example, we find micro needling to be a cost effective and helpful treatment option for depressed acne scars.  For keloids on the ears, we utilize radio- surgery to meticulously remove scar tissue.  More information about that procedure can be found here.

If you have a scar, or think you are developing one please schedule an appointment with us so that we can help you to heal in the best way possible.

What Is Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of cancer, with about a million new cases estimated in the U.S. each year. It is rarely a life threatening. Basal cell carcinomas are malignant growths that arise in the deepest layer of the epithelium.  Basal cell carcinoma typically affects people of fair complexion with a history of prolonged sun exposure, or repeated episodes of sunburn. The tendency to develop basal cell carcinoma may be inherited. They are usually grow slowly.

Basal cell carcinoma can usually be diagnosed with a simple biopsy and is fairly easy to treat when detected early. However, when not recognized and treated quickly, they can be difficult to eliminate. Fortunately, however, this is a cancer that has an extremely low rate of metastasis, and it is not usually life threatening.

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