Psoriasis Archive

Research we're watching

While more than three-quarters of Americans say that sun protection is important, less than half actually use it on a regular basis when they're heading outside, according to a survey by the American Academy of Dermatology. Some 28% of those polled said they rarely or never use sun protection, which includes using sunscreen, staying in the shade outside whenever possible, and wearing clothing such as hats or other items that can protect against the sun's rays. Sun exposure is the leading cause of skin cancers, affecting one in every five Americans, so the AAD says it's important that people take steps to protect themselves. The AAD recommends that you

• wear sunscreen with 30 SPF or higher
• stay out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when its rays are the most intense
• use clothing to protect your skin, such as a hat and long-sleeved shirt.

Image: © Aleksej Sarifulin/Getty Images

For many teens, summer activities like jobs, internships, and camps are probably on hold this year, and a sense of uncertainty hovers over nearly everything. How can parents guide teens and help them flourish while also keeping them safe?

Some social distancing will be needed for many more months, or even years, to keep the coronavirus at bay. But abstaining from all social contact for the long haul won’t be a sustainable option for most people. So, how can we make decisions about socializing safely?

What does that skin spot or growth mean, and when should you have it checked?

Even if you're diligent about sun protection (and you should be), you can still develop skin spots, growths, or other abnormalities.

But are they always cause for concern, or just a normal part of aging skin?

News briefs

Eczema is a common and chronic inflammatory condition that leaves skin dry and itchy. A large study published in the February 2020 issue of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found that people with eczema had an increased bone fracture risk, especially if the eczema was severe. Researchers compared 500,000 adults with eczema to more than 2.5 million people who didn't have eczema. Over a period of five years, people with eczema appeared to have slightly higher rates (7% to 18%) of wrist, hip, pelvis, and spine fractures, compared with people who didn't have eczema. People with severe eczema had much higher rates of hip fractures (50% higher), pelvis fractures (66% higher), and spine fractures (109% higher, or more than double the risk) than people without eczema. The study is observational and doesn't prove that eczema causes bone fractures; it could be that certain medications and lifestyle habits contributed to broken bones in the study. "But based on the findings, people with eczema should be aware their skin condition may increase the risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures, and should talk to their health care provider to decide if preventive measures and screening tests for osteoporosis are warranted. Healthy lifestyle choices, such as getting enough calcium and vitamin D and getting regular aerobic and weight-bearing exercise, are important for everyone and may be particularly important for people with eczema," says Dr. Robert Shmerling, a rheumatologist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

Image: © PeopleImages/Getty Images

Ask the doctors

Q. My skin has been breaking out since I entered menopause. Why is this happening, and what can I do about it?

A. Many women notice changes to their skin at menopause. For some women this means dryness, age spots, or a tendency toward bruising. For others, estrogen levels drop while male hormone levels, such as testosterone, remain the same, which can prompt acne breakouts.

You don’t need your spleen to live a normal, healthy life, but the spleen does play an important role in defending the body against infection, so those without it need to take certain precautions to ensure they remain healthy.