Skinema, dermatology in the media blog

Lena Dunham has HPV?

This is comedy? She's got a wart virus with serious complications...

Whoops! Scratch that. Lena Dunham, the uberkind writer/director/star of HBO's controversial series, "Girls" may or may not be infected with Human Papilloma Virus, specifically the strains that cause genital warts and the majority of cervical cancers. Her character on "Girls," Hannah Horvath, actually received that diagnosis in the third episode of the first season. Our mistake is understandable, given that Dunham has traditionally established little distance from the characters she plays. In her feature film, "Tiny Furniture," Dunham's character is in conflict with her mother and sister, who are portrayed in the flick by her actual mother and sister. This authenticity is found when Horvath is blindsided by her HPV diagnosis. She had only had protected sex with her current ne'er-do-well partner and he falsely claimed he had been tested for HPV and was clean. Her previous boyfriend reveals the true medical info: HPV can be spread even with condom use. The virus can effect the skin of the abdomen or the base of the shaft, areas not covered by latex condoms. Also, men and women may harbor the virus without showing visible warts. Finally, that there is no current test that a male can undergo to show that he is not infected. While most women with HPV infections become immune to that strain and do not necessarily progress to cervical cancer, there was a significant fact that was left out of the narrative: A safe and effective vaccine for HPV of the groin has been available for males and females for years. If the show's recent college grads had not undergone the 3 injections, they would have at least been aware of the process. Of the 2 vaccines available in the US, Gardasil covers 4 HPV strains that contribute to the majority of cases of genital warts and cervical cancer development, plus have been implicated in cases of penile cancer, anal cancer and throat cancer. Perhaps these quirky characters will chat about the vaccine on a later episode. Viewers needn't wait to consider the vaccine themselves, however. It has been approved by the FDA for males and females ages 9-25.

The 2012 Skinnies Awards: Kim Kardashian Psoriasis

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! The queen of reality shows now has an award to show for it. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Kim Kardashian's rash: Psoriasis

Kim's reality (show) is rocked by skin spots. What could they be?

Winner of the midyear Skinnies Award, "Reality TV's Most Real Moment" goes to Kim Kardashian, blind-sided by her diagnosis of psoriasis during an episode of "Keeping Up with the Kardashians." Mystified by an itchy eruption on her trunk and legs, she is told by her sister it might be "ringworm."

The 2010 Skinnies Awards: Katherine Heigl's Skin Cancer

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Katherine Heigl's character developed melanoma skin cancer on "Grey's Anatomy" earning her the "Life Saving Storyline" award. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Lisa Kudrow: Dermatologist

"Friend's" Ratings Stunt:		Lisa Kudrow is a Cougar's best bud.

Years ago, kids aspired for careers of prestige and excitement.  When asked, they wanted to be astronauts, fire fighters, even the US President.  Now, those roles appear to have be supplanted by a certain medical specialty, at least according to TV comedies:  Dermatologist.

In the last year, at least three major television programs have featured skin doctors.  On “30 Rock,” Tina Fey joins up with a group of women of leisure and gets treated by a NY derm.  In HBO’s series “Hung,” Anne Heche leaves the main character and marries a wealthy dermatologist.  Scenes include a backyard BBQ with obscure skin humor.

Back on network TV, “Cougar Town’s” Courtney Cox is treated by a derm with the bedside manner of Christian Bale on a bender.  A “Friends” reunion of sorts, the caustic doc is portrayed by Lisa Kudrow.

For years, some considered Dermatology the laughing stock of medicine. It was  “superficial” (literally and figuratively) compared to specialties such as Cardiology or Oncology.  In the 1990’s, the tides turned.  With increasingly available cosmetic treatments such as Botox Cosmetic, fillers and laser devices, many non-dermatologist docs became affiliated with “medi-spas,” storefronts staffed primarily by nurses and aestheticians.  For a price, clients could listen to new age tunes while having a facial peel or a laser hair removal session.  Since state regulation of spas is spotty, beauty fans should check the credentials of the staff before going under anything, be it knife, needle, or laser beam.

Tina Fey's Scar: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Tina Fey caps a big year by winning the award for "Celeb Skin Secret Revealed." We give the skinny why Fey has a large scar on her cheek. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Eric Dane has skin cancer?

Eric Dane appears extremely well, just weeks after his bout with "cancer."

Actor Eric Dane, star of TV's "Grey's Anatomy," has been reported to have skin cancer. Before his legions of fans panic, it appears that his prognosis is excellent. Though he is not our patient, he reportedly noticed an odd patch above his lips which a dermatologist treated with a freezing treatment, liquid nitrogen. In short, McSteamy got a quick freeze. This lesion is apparently not a life threatening melanoma, but rather a sun-induced pre-cancerous lesion called an actinic keratosis. If untreated, these scaly spots, due to sun exposure early in life, can turn into a form of non-melanoma skin cancer called squamous cell skin cancer (SCC). Unlike melanoma, SCC usually does not metastasize, go to lymph nodes, or act in a life-threatening manner. Actinic keratoses typically respond to freezing treatments and heal without scarring. Dane has since gone on record that the report was exaggerated, confirming our assessment. We don't have a problem with alerting the public about the dangers of long term sun exposure, but let's call a cancer a cancer and call a premalignant actinic keratosis...that.

President Bush was treated for actinic keratoses

Randy Jackson's Rash

Randy Jackson's got a lot to smile about.	He won't let an elbow rash...	...stop him from enjoying the show.

Part of the appeal of TV juggernaut "American Idol" are the trio of judges: kooky Paula Abdul, strident Simon Cowell, and laid back music producer Randy Jackson. While Cowell is renown for his tight T-shirts, Randy prefers long sleeves. Recently, it became clear why. Exposed, Randy's bare arm reveals a dark, scaly rash, the classic appearance of psoriasis in a person of color. As a producer, Randy rubs elbows with music's biggest stars. Singers can rest assured, those elbows are not contagious. A frustrating form of inflammation, psoriasis is not caused by bacteria, fungus, or being "pitchy." Between creams containing cortisone, tar, zinc and vitamin D, there are almost as many ways to reduce the appearance of psoriasis as there are ways to style Sanjaya's hair. Yet none of these treatments are a permanent cure. So keeping some moisturizer around the studio, as well as a positive attitude, should keep Jackson feeling the "wow factor." More psoriasis in movies at skinema.com.

David Blaine: Soggy Skin Stunt

What does Blaine get for spending 7 days underwater?	Dangerously dishpan hands!

Dermatologists worldwide watched as illusionist David Blaine emerged from his tank. Though he hadn't broken the holding-ones-breath record, he had managed to stay underwater for a full seven days, putting his health at risk. His skin health, that is. Humans are not aquatic mammals, now proven by the marked chapping and epidermal sloughing of Blaine's palms. While motorcycle daredevil Evel Knievel has broken most of the bones in his body, Blaine has also suffered for his art, with a severe case of dish pan hands. Though not a dermatologist, Blaine's doctor had his priorities straight. What was the first assessment made of David's health when returned to dry land? Did they immediately record his blood pressure? An EKG to check his heart? Did they measure his pulse? No, they quickly and efficiently scrutinized his palm skin and fingernails to make sure they were intact. TEN (toxic epidermal necrolysis) is a life threatening allergic reaction that can cause severe skin blistering. Occlusive dressings, antibiotics, and supportive care are used to nurse these intensely ill patients back to health. If necessary, similiar techniques can be employed to restore Blaine's palms to their original supple state. Thank goodness his tattoos and killer abs weren't similarly endangered. Still, our word to the kids out there--don't try this at home.

Strange skin on "Survivor"

Castaway Aras spreads the love with a massage.	Yet will he also spread...	...the infection causing this rash?

The 2006 season of "Survivor" has a new twist: every few days a contestant is sent to weather the dreaded Exile Island. With his splotchy trunk and shoulders, it is a wonder that Aras Baskauskas isn't banished by his team mates immediately. Not to worry: his blotchy, scaly rash is not contagious. "Tinea versicolor" (TV), is a common affliction of the young, sweaty, and sun exposed. It is caused by an overgrowth of a common skin yeast, spurred by excessive perspiration. The organism then causes pigment cells to create more, or (in this case) less color, hence the term versicolor. The yeast can be temporarily exiled with the topical application of certain dandruff shampoos, anti-yeast creams, or even anti-fungal pills. Unfortunately for our reality show star, the skin then takes a few months to regain an even tone. Then, like omnipresent host Jeff Probst, the condition can return. Sometimes it seems that this "TV" is as tenacious as the "Survivor" series has become on your TV!

For more skin conditions from "Survivor," try the skinema.com collection...

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