Skinema, dermatology in the media blog

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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Bachelor Bob a baddie?

"Bachelor" Bob stars in "Kill Reality"	He's given a scar to seem sinister.	Is this the face of a killer?

Reality TV fans get their fix from the recent E! show "Kill Reality." Previous contestants from shows like "Survivor" & "The Real World" are cast in an actual horror flick, hilariously titled "The Scorned." With little to no acting training, thus far, their performances seem mixed. Former "Bachelor" contestant Bob Guiney is particularly challenged, cast to play a mean-spirited killer. Though he may have broken hearts during rose ceremonies, this baby-faced grinner does not appear to be your standard villain. How to give Guiney an evil edge? Nothing less than the skinema standard: a fake forehead scar. If prosthetic scarring could make Red Dragon's Ralph Fiennes, desparate housewife Marcia Cross, and even a cartoon lion look menacing, can't it turn Bob bad?

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