We are excited to welcome Rachel Ellis, MD to our office.  Dr. Rachel Ellis received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University and her medical degree from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center. She completed a year of Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center. She subsequently completed her Ophthalmology residency at Downstate Medical Center followed by additional specialized training in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. She is an enthusiastic mentor, teaching Jamaica Hospital and North Shore/LIJ residents ophthalmic plastic surgery.

Facial plastic surgery can not only change your appearance but can also boost your self-confidence and help you look as young as you feel. Whether you want to get rid of the hoods or bags from your eyes, smooth wrinkles, tighten sagging skin, or correct a problem resulting from surgery, birth defects or the effects of aging, the wide array of procedures available at our office can help you achieve the appearance you desire.

Dr. Rachel Ellis is board-certified specializing in cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the eyelids and face. Dr. Ellis works closely with each patient to develop an individualized plan of treatment and is dedicated to helping you achieve a natural post-surgical look.

More information about Dr. Rachel Ellis and the services that she provides can be found on her website:  http://eye.belaray.com

To request an appointment with Dr. Rachel Ellis, please use this on-line form, or call (516) 822-SKIN (7546)

May is skin cancer month, and the first Monday of May (May 3, 2010) is known as Melanoma Monday – with special activities nationally and locally.  To help spread awareness of skin cancer, and help our community prevent skin cancer, we have developed something very special.

We are proud to introduce our Sun Smart Skin Safe bracelets. They are available in both child and adult sizes, and  will be available for purchase in our office or by mail for $3 each, or 4 for $10.  100% of profits from the sale of these bracelets will be donated charity.  Charities will include the Melanoma Research Foundation, as well as local community skin cancer awareness and prevention projects.  Not only will you be making a donation by purchasing a bracelet, but you may also be helping to protect your skin.  How?  These bracelets do some neat tricks. They change color from white to blue when exposed to harmful UV rays – reminding you to protect yourself and your family.   Here are some tips on how to do just that.

Sun exposure is the most preventable risk factor for all skin cancers, including melanoma. You can have fun in the sun and decrease your risk of skin cancer. Here’s how to Be Skin Safe – Sun Smart:

• Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, whenever possible.

• Seek shade when appropriate. Remember that the sun’s rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow appears to be shorter than you are, seek shade.

• Protect children from sun exposure. Be sure to play in the shade, use protective clothing, and apply sunscreen.

• Use extra caution near water, snow, and sand because they reflect and intensify the damaging rays of the sun, which can increase your chances of sunburn.

• Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don’t seek the sun.

• Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you’ve been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

• Check your birthday suit on your birthday. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

• Use sunscreen – especially one that is thought to be safe by the environmental working group. There are many recommended sunscreens to choose from.

And the fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down.  These bracelet glows in the dark too!!

We hope you use them, share them, enjoy them, learn from them, and stay Sun Smart & Skin Safe with them!

Note: Several local schools and organizations have expressed interest in selling our Sun Smart Skin Safe bracelets as a community project/fundraiser.  We are happy to support you.  Please call the office to set up a meeting to discuss details.

We at Belaray Dermatology  are saddened by the devastation in Haiti this week and are concerned for those living and traveling there. We wanted to provide you with this list of several organizations currently working to provide aid and relief.

We encourage you to help if you can.

The American Red Cross

www.redcross.org

Text “Haiti” to 90999 to donate $10 (billed to your phone)

The United Nations World Food Program

www.wfp.org

The Salvation Army

www.salvationarmyusa.org

Action Against Hunger

www.actionagainsthunger.org

Project HOPE

www.projecthope.org

Partners in Health

www.pih.org

At Belaray Dermatology, we are Acne experts.  We know how frustrating Acne can be, and we also know how to make you better!

For our patients who want to clear up as quickly as possible, a visit to our Medi Spa with our esthetician, Melanie will do the trick.  She offers a “CLEAN TEEN FACIAL” for only $45.  This is perfect for your teen on the go. This facial is designed to clean, heal and rid the skin of excess oil and bacteria – while leaving you refreshed.   A facial that will leave you with a smile that only comes when you like what you see.   This is just one of the many treatments available on our spa menu.

To book an appointment, please call (516) 822-SKIN (7546) or use this on-line form.

If you would like to vote in the “Best of LI” competition you can do so here.

A facial can be an effective treatment that will sooth sensitive skin, or hydrate mature skin. All skin types can benefit.  If clearing up some acne is your goal, we can create a customized program to help you too. The best treatment is performed when you communicate clearly your concerns and goals. Then it’s our job to help you reach them.

Look here to learn more about our medi-spa, esthetician and the services we offer.

Wearing sunglasses is not just a fashion statement – they protect your eyes from damaging UV rays.   We suggest getting polarized lenses, as they are the best at removing glare while protecting your eyes.

Want to save money?  You can buy your prescription polarized sunglasses on line. Both non-prescription and prescription polarized lenses can be found for as little as $48.95.  (They also have regular eye glasses at great prices too – as little as $39 including shipping!)

Summer is here… and sunburns are inevitable.  Right?

Hopefully not.  The best way to treat a sunburn is to avoid one in the first place.  We discuss many ways to do just that in a previous post.

But what to do when… for whatever reason… you get burned?

There are numerous suggestions on-line, including yogurt, alcohol, asprin in alcohol, aloe, honey, sour cream, and diaper cream.  What to choose!?! The compound that has been studied the most is Indomethacin.  This is a prescription NSAID (a type of pain medication).

If you get a sunburn, we suggest that you call your physician and ask them if the following regimen is safe for you:

Step 1. Take Ibuprofen immediately and then every four hours.

Step 2. Open one 50mg capsule of indomethacin (cost about $0.20 per capsule at drugstore.com).  Indomethacin is a prescription.  It is the most studied, and the best choice.  However, if you are unable to access this medication you can substitute  ibuprofen (Advil) 600 mg.

Step 3. Grind the above pill to a powder

Step 4. Mix powder with one 30 gram tube of over the counter Hydrocortisone 1% ointment or cream with Aloe

Step 5. This mixture can be applied to the skin several times per day as needed.  For additional soothing relief, keep the cream in the refrigerator and apply it cool.

NOTE: This is only useful for mild sunburns in an otherwise healthy adult.  Anyone with a significant sunburn should seek prompt medical attention.  Any child with a sunburn must be seen by their pediatrician.  The above recommendations may not be appropriate for children or some adults.   Before using any topical or oral medication, please speak with your physician.

Research suggests that Caffeine kills some skin cancer cells.  According to a study published in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology this month,  “caffeine could be added to sunscreen to boost protection against the most common form of skin cancer.”  We do not find this surprising.  Infact, we have thought that for a long time.  That is why we offer our patients a sunscreen that has Caffeine as well as potent antioxidants from green tea.  We believe that the best protection you can get is by combining sunscreen, caffeine, and anteoxidants – and that is just what we do in our Anteox Sunscreen.

We are honored to receive the 2008 Patient’s Choice award.  Of the nations 720,000 active physicians, less than 5% were accorded this honor by their patients in 2008 – and we are proud to be one of them.

We look forward to continuing to provide the best possible care to our patients in 2009 and beyond!