I hope you all had an amazing holiday weekend. I spent most of the weekend playing outside with my little girl and her best friend by the pool {insert gasp here}. Whenever I educate patients about sun protection and their skin being more tan than I like to see I often times get the response “well I spend so much time outside”. Whether it be from a farmer or a lake goer or a beach vacationer I often times wonder if they think I live in a drawer. I like outdoor activities too! I even own a boat and often spend weekends on the lake! And guess what?!?! I hate having to constantly worry about applying sunscreen. It’s such a pain. I wonder if trying to quit smoking is as hard as sun protection? Do you know how hard it is to put sunscreen on a two year old? I imagine it’s similar to trying to win a mud wrestling match. The point is that the sun protective struggle IS real. I understand that what I ask you to do to protect your skin from the sun isn’t easy. Sunscreen application most definitely is not easy. That’s why I love sun protective clothing. It’s so easy. That’s my number one reason to wear sun protective clothing but here are some other good ones.

1. It’s fashionable- I wear a red leopard neck to toe swim suit. What’s hotter than skin tight red leopard? I’m serious.

2. It’s cool. Not cool like vanilla ice, cool as in temperature. When the sun is beating on your skin it can get pretty hot. When you have a wet long sleeve rash guard on it cools the skin and feels so good.

3. It’s clean- Sunscreen can be messy. It can explode in your purse, it can get in your eyes, it can get on your clothes. I mean I love the stuff and would still rather put on a long sleeve shirt than have to lather my arms in sunscreen.

4. It’s cheap- Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen nor apply often enough to adequately protect from UVA/UVB rays. It takes a lot of sunscreen to get through even one day by the pool in a bikini and the cost of sunscreen can quickly add up. Buy one long sleeve, long pant swim suit and it lasts all summer….. probably more than one summer!

5. It’s fun to shop for! What woman doesn’t love to shop for clothes? Shop for cute cover-ups on-line and in store, it’s really a treat with all the new options! Here is a photo of me in my Exotic Water Wear swimsuit (find it at www.exoticwaterwear.com.au) and my girls in Cabana Life (find them at www.cabanalife.com) looking good covered up!

Happy Independence Day to all! Hope your fun in the sun was spent safely! See you all at the clinic this week for all your skin needs!

xXxX, Nina

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Did you know June is acne awareness month? I almost let June get away from me without an acne post! I love to treat acne. Acne is evil whether you’re a teenager, a mom, a lawyer, whatever, no one likes to suffer with acne. It’s the best feeling ever to help someone feel their best. I want you all to come see me if you suffer with acne because we have so much we can do to help you. In the clinic we use lasers, prescription creams and pills (including Accutane), light treatments and more! But there is a lot that you can do for your acne without even coming to the dermatologist. Here are some things that you can do to help treat your acne without ever seeing a healthcare provider.

1. Stop picking- Your acne will look worse and stay longer. I know it’s hard but try it, I promise the results are worth it!

2. Benzoyl Peroxide- Leave on tends to work better than a wash but they both can be drying and irritating so beware. Avoid the formulas that add fragrance, color or beads that can cause inflammation and worsen your acne.

3. Use a gentle cleanser and moisturizer- Avoid scrubbing, scrubs, cleansers with beads or fragrances and really anything fancy. The plainer the better. Plain white soap for the win! Elta MD AM moisturizer is one of my favs for acne prone skin.

4. BOB sunscreen- Try to avoid some of the comedogenic sunscreen formulas. Use something really light like the B.O.B (Brush on Block). It is a powder sunscreen that comes out of a fancy brush and goes on clear.

5. Retinol- Retinoids are a group of prescription creams that we use to treat acne. They have a little sister called Retinol. Be aware that all retinols are not created equal. This is a product to splurge on. SkinMedica Retinols are proven to be effective and less irritating, give them a whirl.

I hope you guys all come and see me even if you use these tricks. Have an amazing last few days of Acne Awareness Month! Hope to see you at Johnson Dermatology soon!

XxXx, Nina

4.

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You never know what it’s like to be in someone else’s shoes. When I was an ICU nurse and people would apologize that I had to work on Christmas day I would just thank God that I was working and wasn’t the patient in the bed, fighting for my life on a holiday. We often take our health for granted. As you know, I had a little girl almost 9 weeks ago. She had, what I felt, was an awful rash.  She also has a few other problems that we are having to see doctors for and I’m getting a real taste of what it is like being on the other side. Wondering if a call at a certain time means something bad or something good, wondering if I can trust the doctors taking care of my baby, wondering if there is anything I can do. Being sick is a very helpless feeling. To all my patients that I have scared or confused or made things any harder than they already were when you trusted me to help you with acne, a weird mole or rash, I apologize. My hope is that you will always feel comfortable with me. With all that being said I would like to list the top five things someone with a rash doesn’t want to hear. These were the things people said to me when Stevie had a rash that drove the “patient” me (not the health provider me) bonkers.

1. “Is she contagious?” Okay, you’re holding my baby and kissing her and you think I’m just allowing that knowing you’re gonna wake up tomorrow with this funky rash all over your face?!?! No, she isn’t contagious. If we have an obvious rash we will let you know if we are contagious.

2. “Have you tried _______?” I appreciate your advice, sort of, well actually no I don’t. I saw a doctor and they told me what to do. I know you are trying to help but you are making me feel like I’m not doing something that I’m supposed to be doing. You can’t wave a magic wand and make a rash go away in the blink of an eye. Trust me, I’m working on it.

3. “That looks like it hurts.” How do you respond to that? “Yes, it hurts, thanks for noticing.” ???

4. “Who is your doctor?” Does that imply that you don’t think they are doing a good job? Or that you want to make sure you don’t go there? I felt so self conscious being a dermatology nurse practitioner and having a baby with a rash. I felt like people thought I must not know what to do.

5. “How long does that last?” That is the million dollar question. Wish I knew. Asking me just reminds me that I don’t know how long I have to suffer with this rash down to the minute.

Everything that happens in life is an opportunity to change for the better. I wish you all the blessings of change, of making life better. I think I’m a better healthcare provider for having a baby with a rash so I guess it wasn’t SUCH a bad thing.

Hope to see you all this week. It’s amazing to be back at work at Johnson Dermatology so I hope I get to see you and share some of my JOY with you!

XX, Nina

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Sorry I’ve been MIA! Moving, maternity leave, 7 week old baby, two year old… it’s got me a little twisted. Today I got to do one of my favorite things though, hit the salon! I love a good shampoo, cut, color and style. Dermatologists are experts of the skin, hair and nails. Lets get real, a LOT of dermatologist don’t stay up to date on what’s “in” for the hair, nails and skin. I on the other hand refuse to leave the age of 29 and I try my hardest to stay a hip, young, Maltese chick. My hairdresser, Caroline Mackey is super cool and stylin. She keeps my hair on fleek.  If you don’t have a hair dresser, all the girls at Roots salon are fabulux. Today, while I got my hair did, I interviewed Caroline about what’s hip, what’s not and how to keep our hair stylin’ this Summer. She is just too cool to keep all her amazingness to myself and my patients so I have to share with my blog followers too. Hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did!

Nina: What is the hottest hair trend right now?

Caroline: Balayage hair color, the California look. Very “beach meets festival” look.  Long hair is it. Braids are super hot right now too.

Nina: Pink, purple and even grey seem to be hot colors on the celebs right now. How can a professional woman like myself get in on that trend without loosing my “professional look” while at work?

Caroline: Try some of the temporary sprays for a weekend or an event. They wash out after you wear them. Also, keep it classy by only applying the color to the tips of your hair or “peek-a-boos”not a whole head of purple hair.

Nina: As you know, I love not washing my hair for days or “no-poo” but I’ve wondered how long is too long to go without shampooing? Like how long before I become dread locks?

Caroline: If it looks greasy it’s time to wash but if you can use a dry shampoo and can’t tell you haven’t washed then just keep going. Brunettes usually can’t go as long as blondes because brunettes look “greasy” quicker than blondes do. On average, brunettes can go about 3 days and blondes about 5 days and then it’s time for a wash.

Nina: I know I’ve seen some girls gone dry, damaged and even green after a Summer spent in chlorine. What is a product and procedure you recommend to prevent our pool hoppers’ hair from going bad this Summer?

Caroline: Before you get in the pool dampen your hair (those showers are there for a reason) and apply a good leave in conditioner. My favorite is Davines because it is all organic. If you start going green get Three shampoo from Paul Mitchell. It cleanses the hair and removes the green.

Nina: What cut or style annoys you? Like when they sit down in your chair, looking at it makes your skin crawl!

Caroline: Mullet haircuts…. not Joe Dirt Mullet but when a girl comes in and the front is damaged and short bang-like but the rest/back is long. She doesn’t want to lose her length so she won’t let you cut it, not realizing she is rocking a mullet!  Oh, oh, AND thick, blunt ends.

Nina: All women love the feeling at the end of the day of taking off that bra. Am I right, or am I right?!?! After I have been in a pony tail all day I have that same feeling. It just feels so good to get my hair out of that cute little pony tail! What styling advice do you have for girls who get headaches or just sore scalp after wearing a ponytail for an extended period of time?

Caroline: Ponytail pain is usually caused by using too tight of a ponytail or dry scalp. Try to switch from a high ponytail to a lower one at your nape area. Paul Mitchell tea tree scalp treatment is awesome for dry scalp. When your hair is sore just massage your scalp. Nina sidenote: I’m going to try braids instead of my go-to ponytail look and move my sock bun down and make it messier and looser for a trendier, more comfy look! Also, we have lots of tricks for dry scalp, if you suffer from dry scalp make an appointment at Johnson Dermatology. This is a problem we are really good at fixing!

Nina: We all want to look skinny, right? I mean nothing tastes as good as skinny feels, right? (other than  a good chocolate cake with a glass of wine) So, is there a cut or color that will thin your face?

Caroline: Most cuts and colors to make your face look thinner have to do with detail. For cuts, try bangs if you have a large enough forehead and try some layers or face framing. As for color, pick a color that compliments your eyes and it will take the focus off your face. It’s all about balance.

Thank you Caroline for my new do and keeping me up-to-date with all the cool kids!

To schedule an appointment with Caroline or one of her ah-mazing staff at Roots call 479-226-9330!

Stay Hairtastic, Nina

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Some of you from the Fort Smith area may know Meagan Matlock. She is one sweet, successful, beautiful person who is also the owner of Hazel’s Haven. Hazel’s Haven is one of Fort Smiths best fashion boutiques so if you haven’t checked it out, go! You won’t be disappointed and while you are there thank Meagan for this blog post. Meagan has a generous heart and was nice enough to open up and tell us all about her Melanoma experience. Without further delay, here are a few questions Meagan answered about her melanoma diagnosis in honor of Melanoma awareness month coming to an end.

How and when were you diagnosed with melanoma?

First, let me offer my background info leading up to the point where I am today… I tanned in tanning beds off and on year ’round from the time I was probably about 16 and could drive myself to them. Had I known better, like with many things as we grow wiser with age, I would have done this in moderation; instead, I was a regular. I did not feel pretty unless I was tan. And, I felt that it helped keep my skin clear. So…I tanned in a bed a lot and in the Summer we lived at the lake on the weekends or I’d be at a pool if we were in town. And you can probably guess…I rarely used a sunscreen. Mayyyyybeee like spf of 8 unless, of course, I got burned (which happened many times over the years) then the following day I would wear a higher spf or keep in the shade (I wasn’t completely ignorant!). But, all in all, I did not take care of myself like I should have. We ALWAYS think “it won’t happen to me…surely.” Ok, so cut to a few years ago. I was checking my back side on my way out to the pool and on the small of my back I noticed a new dark “freckle.” Over the course of a couple years it never bothered me. It was flat and never changed that I could tell. Randomly I would have my husband look at it but we never really thought much of it. I have had a lot of new, small little “freckles” pop up on my stomach/shoulder/arms/legs but that’s pretty much the only one on my back that really stood out – mainly because it was a loner and it was dark. Long story short (and a total God thing) I had a couple conversations this January and it made me think about that spot and that I should go just get a skin check since I never had before. Had it not been for the fact that I am a mother, I might not have even gone. Something about knowing you have a life dependent on you sure changes your perspective on many things. So I called my friend Nina and she had me come in her office in February. She removed that spot and another. A week later she called me and said that the spot I was curious about was, in fact, melanoma.

How did you feel when you had melanoma?

Honestly, at first, I didn’t know what to think. I guess I didn’t realize the severity of it and just how lucky I was that it hadn’t spread…and how careless it was of me not to have taken better care of myself and have checkups! I knew that people I had known distantly had died from it but I never really had been thoroughly educated on it. Nina helped calm me and explained it all very well to me.

How was your melanoma treated?

I had to go in and have them remove the parameters to make sure it hadn’t spread. Thank the Lord it had not. It was a simple procedure. They numbed my back and cut the skin out.

Has your lifestyle changed at all now that you know you have had a melanoma?

Yes! Absolutely. Now I will always, always coat myself in sunscreen. You can still get a tan by doing so–I’ve learned the sun is very strong. With age and maturity and confidence in who I am I have also learned that being tan does not make you beautiful. Sure, we all feel better with some color, but I am not nearly as obsessive over it as I used to be. I have a little girl who is observing my every move. I don’t want her to hear me say “I’m not pretty without a tan” because that is so false. I think pale skin is just as beautiful…I just had a hang-up for a very long time. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good spray tan and I love a sun-kissed look, but I have learned that everything in moderation is key. And SPF and skin check-ups are a MUST!!!

What follow up do you have now that you have had melanoma?

I will go every 3 months for a year since I am considered high risk. Then, after that, I will go once or twice a year. Plus, I know now to just really watch closely myself and not wait 2 or 3 years when I am suspicious about a spot.

What would you tell the 12 year old you about melanoma?

Oh gosh… a lot of what I mentioned in question #4. There is nothing wrong with living your life, having fun at the lake or pool or beach. It just all goes back to moderation and common sense and the desire and knowledge to want to take care of yourself. Don’t bask in the sun from 11am-4pm during the strongest hours of the sun without reapplying a strong SPF– or an even wiser thing would be to NOT be in the sun THAT LONG. Ha!

What do you want people to know about the full body skin exam? The biopsy? The surgery? The scar?

I would encourage anyone (and you can bet I have encouraged my close family and friends!) to go. It is not a big deal at all. I am super modest, but my friend Nina and her co-workers made me feel comfortable. It’s a quick check that won’t take much time but could potentially save your life. Getting a mole removed is pretty much painless, same as the surgery..although I’ll admit I dislike needles and the tugging of numb skin makes me kinda wanna vomit, lol! But, truthfully, none of it was a bad experience. My scar is pretty large and noticeable. My surgery was in February and here it is May and it’s still pretty pink. They did offer a free laser treatment (that felt like a rubber band popping your skin with a burning sensation to it) and that has seemed to help. I do put healing oil on it to help as well. Hey, I can deal with a scar. What I can’t deal with is the thought of not catching it in time… telling myself it was nothing… and the likelihood that it could and would have spread had we not caught it in time. I plan to get 1 or 2 more laser treatments done to help with the redness of the scar.

As an influential business woman in our community does having a melanoma change how you role model to girls?

First of all, thank you for that flattering, humbling title you just gave me. I really appreciate your perspective–it’s funny to hear things like that! =) My heart goes out to girls and women of all ages and the pressure on us all to look and feel a certain way–it’s absurd. I have been in retail for most of my teen/adult life working around women every. single. day. I hear women cut themselves down every. single. day. I hear them point out their “flaws” that none of us would ever even recognize every. single. day. It truly makes me sad and hurts my heart for the things that Haven might go through and the skewed view she could possibly have of herself. I grew up hearing my mother speak of her insecurities my whole life and she is such a beautiful, kind, classy woman. Every woman does it. But we need to stop and think about how we talk about ourselves (and other women) in front of our children who are so easily influenced by the things they hear us say. Don’t get me wrong, I am not preaching TO anyone…I am just as guilty but I am definitely a work in progress, trying to be more mindful so that I can be uplifting and a positive example to not only my daughter, but to my clientele who shop in my store. I am lucky to have a husband who builds me up and calls me out when I say mindless, stupid, negative things about myself. I would want women and girls of all ages to learn though my experience of being in the fashion industry plus my melanoma scare that beauty does not equal tan skin. Beauty does not equal a size 0 or 2. Beauty does not equal a certain hair color or certain brand of clothing. Beauty is how you are behind closed doors & what’s really inside your conscience…not just some empty kind comment you put out there on social media. I’ve seen people post nothing but uplifting, kind things but have witnessed or heard from reliable sources of those people not acting in public to other people quite what they preach. We all have ugly moments and they do not define us unless you are guilty of those ugly moments more than not. Beauty is taking care of yourself, loving yourself and embracing the unique blessings that God gave only to YOU. Beauty is how you treat others and the true desires within your heart. Due to my experience I will never be a person who judges and nags someone else for practicing unsafe sun habits. All I can say, if asked, is be smart and do EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

How did your family and friends react when you told them you had melanoma and how did that affect you?

I’d say they were shocked just because, like I said earlier, you never think of anything hitting close to home…until it does. Of course, they were supportive and I know of several who have had skin checks since I found out. I am so glad that my life experience encouraged others to take better care of themselves and maybe go for their first-ever skin exam. I’ll admit, there was a weak moment I had one morning where it hit me what I was dealing with and I got pretty emotional, but I snapped myself out of it and felt quite foolish because many people do not get as lucky as I did. Things could have been worse. Now I know that I am susceptible and that’s that. I will go for skin exams regularly. I will use SPF on myself and my family members. Everything in moderation.

Do you have a family history of Melanoma?

Nope

Thank you to Meagan for her insight!

Hope everyone has a wonderful long weekend! Happy Memorial Day, Nina

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My little girl is officially 3 weeks old. I have reached the point where my only daily hygiene goal is to brush my teeth. I have no idea what day of the week it is and when the barista at Starbucks gives me the evil eye as I order a double shot espresso with a baby screaming bloody murder in the back seat I just laugh crazily, like Cruella Deville. With that being said I’m a bridesmaid in a wedding on Saturday. Not just any wedding, Honey, my work sister’s wedding. She is not only a wonderful dermatology physician assistant to work side by side with, she has become one of my best friends. She is a good person who makes me a better person which is what makes friendships the best. I would do anything for her! So I gotta pull myself, and my two kids under two, together and get to Tulsa this weekend to help my girl celebrate the union of her and the love of her life! My skin has to look in tip top shape and I must admit my skincare regimen is kind of falling to the bottom of my list, I mean I can barely remember when my last shower was! Here are some simple tips to live by the week before a big event for having your skin look the best it can look!

1. No new products- Don’t go to the drug store and try a new acne treatment or new face cream. If you have a reaction to something you have never tried before, you’ll have to deal with a rash on your face which can be a bigger problem than what you started with.

2. See your dermatologist- Make an appointment with your dermatologist the week before your big event for any acute things you need taken care of before the big day. If you don’t need it you can call and cancel but don’t try to be rushing around to get it at the last minute. If you get that dreaded pimple there are some things we can do like inject it with steroid or laser it to make it go away in a hurry.

3. No facials- I know that manicure, pedicure and facial right before the wedding sounds like a fun thing for all the wedding party to do together or just a way to spruce up.  However, if you have any irritation from these products or any other complications you don’t have a lot of time to fix it.

4. Wear sunscreen- The last thing you want is for dark spots on your face and chest to get darker before the wedding. Tan lines look super tacky and a sunburn is just down right wrong if you are in the wedding party. Don’t be the one that looks a fool in all the pictures, be sun smart this week.

5. Don’t stress- Stress doesn’t necessarily cause skin conditions but it can make them worse. Relax, don’t worry, be happy.

6. Moisturize- You don’t want chapped lips or flaky skin that won’t take make-up well. Remember to use something really plain and simple that you have used before. No fragrances or colors. If you have never used a facial cream or lotion then do a small test patch over by your ear or somewhere that won’t be noticed.

It’s wedding season so I’m sure some of you will be able to put these tips to the test! I can’t wait to get back from maternity leave and see all your smiling faces but until then I would encourage you to go meet Honey and congratulate her on this new chapter in her life. She will take amazing care of your skin too!

Happy Wedding Week Honey, we love you! Cheers, Nina

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May is Melanoma Awareness Month and today is Melanoma Monday. 137,000 people will be diagnosed with Melanoma in the US this year according to the Melanoma Research Foundation(MRF). MRF has a campaign going on right now called #getnaked. It is all about educating people to get naked and do your self skin cancer checks at home. Did you know that you are more likely to find your melanoma then a doctor? That’s what the research shows! So it is important that you know your skin and keep an eye on it. I encourage you to visit http://www.melanoma.org/get-involved/advocacy-initiatives/get-naked and join in on self skin checks. They have some good info on how to do a self skin exam but I thought I would give you some tips here too.

1. Don’t be shy- Your skin is your largest organ so there is a lot of ground to cover. You need to get naked and get in front of a mirror which can be the hardest part for some people. You’re beautiful, you’re important, you’re smart. Be proud to check your skin over, don’t let your insecurities get in the way of checking your skin out.

2. Use a routine so you don’t miss any skin- I like to either start at the top and work my way down, head to toe, or start at the bottom and work my way up, toe to head. You just want to make sure you aren’t missing anything and if you skip around to different body parts it can be hard to remember what you’ve looked at and what you’ve missed.

3. Ask for help- Have your significant other, best friend, Mom or Grandparent check your back and those hard to see places. If you don’t have anyone to look at your skin with you then get a hand held mirror and try to look at those places the best you can. Or grow eyes in the back of your head.

4. Take pictures- Almost everyone reading this probably has a phone with a camera. When you do your skin exam every month take pictures of your moles/freckles that stand out to you. Each month compare your pictures to see if anything is changing or growing in any way (color, size, etc.). If you have growing, new or changing moles get in to see your dermatologist.

5. Don’t forget hard to check places- Under your breasts, bottom of your feet, scalp, behind your ears. Remember, anywhere you have skin you can have a melanoma, not just where the sun has hit you. Ask your dentist, gynecologist and hair dresser to check your skin in places they shine lights that you can’t see quite as well.

Don’t know what you’re looking for? Re-read my post about the hunt for skin cancer here http://www.theskinnyonskin.net/?p=94

You should all do a self exam monthly and let a dermatologist check your skin at least once a year. Melanoma can be deadly but when caught early it could save your life. Take care of yourselves and let us help you take care of your skin. Now go #getnaked for Melanoma!

Have a wonderful Monday, week and month! Stay skintastic, Nina

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I spend most of my day educating patients. What is common sense to me (someone working in healthcare) is often very foreign to the general public. My husband gets so irritated when I use medical jargon like he should know what I’m talking about. You say “mole”, I say “congenital compound nevus”, what’s the big deal?!?! Anyways, with Summer approaching I try to mention to all my patients to remember their sun smart behaviors, with emphasis on sun protective clothing and how to properly use sunscreen. Sunscreen is great but sun protective clothing trumps that. Think of sunscreen as your screen door that keeps most stuff out but sun protective clothing as your wooden front door that protects you from the outside elements even better. People always laugh at me when I say they should be wearing long sleeves and pants in August in Arkansas. But I don’t think they realize I do it in style. I might slightly stretch the rules, don’t we all? As I tell my husband often when he forgets to tell me, I make sun protective clothing look good. As you all know, I love local shopping. This Thursday, April 30th at 6:30 at TGIF’s (Friday’s Restaurant) Hazels Haven (one of my favorite local boutiques) is having a fashion show and those who attend get 25% off a new arrival item! I encourage you all to go have some fun and get a discount. I thought I would show you some of Hazels Haven pieces that I think are stylish and sun protective this Summer. Here are my go to Stylin Summer Sun protective picks.

1. A good wide brim hat. Protect your neck, ears and face with some shade in style. Hats are a perfect accessory to almost any summer outfit.

2. Maxi dress- I love maxi dresses during the hot summer months because they are cool and airy but protect your legs from sun exposure. If you pick one like this pink one from Hazels Haven shown below then just add a light kimono or get really fancy and carry an umbrella that can offer shade to your chest, face and arms. Anything not covered with clothing needs to be covered with broad band, water resistant, at least 30 SPF sunscreen every 2 hours while you are out and about.

3. Long sleeves and pants made with an airy material. These are so in style right now. I’m seeing them everywhere. Printed pants are cooler than jeans during hot days and make a statement.  Win-win!

4. Jeans- It amazes me that my step-sons will wear jeans in any weather. I mean he took jeans to the beach for Spring Break. I ain’t complaining either, my husband says  they are much cooler than they are sensible as teenagers.  I beg to differ, I tell myself they are protecting their legs from sun exposure because they are so smart and health conscience.  Pick a pair of “summer jeans” that are white or pale pink or just have a really worn look. Throw on a pair of jeans with a tee and a kimono or dress them up with heels and a tunic, either way you will be protected from sun exposure and looking hip!

All the pieces shown here can be found at Hazels Haven. May is Melanoma Awareness Month so go pick up some styling sun protective clothing to celebrate! Hope to see you all at the fashion show on Thursday, it should be a fun time! I would also like to take the time to mention that I have a 6 day old little girl and literally am having trouble keeping up with what day it is so you may find my posts over the next couple months don’t always fall on Sundays! haha, I’m sure you understand.

Until next time I can stay awake long enough to post on the blog, be skintastic, Nina

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I get induced on Tuesday with my second daughter. Our plan is for this to be our last (hopefully God agrees with our plan). It has been such a bittersweet weekend for me. I’m excited to give birth to another child but less than excited about the actual labor. I can’t wait for Charlee (my 2 year old) to have a sister but I’m sad she won’t get the attention of an only child. It’s amazing thinking about getting my body back to its old self but depressing thinking about how I will never feel a little miracle kicking and growing inside of me again. All weekend I have been trying to cherish every moment of just the three of us. I’ve been taking pictures of things that aren’t good photo ops just because I want to remember that exact moment. We went out to eat dinner last night just the three of us and as I watched my husband carry out my daughter I almost came to tears taking a picture of it, thinking we will have two next weekend, it will never be just the three of us again. Happy tears, but so bittersweet.

Change is difficult, it doesn’t come natural to us humans. We really are creatures of habit. The only way to get through change is to appreciate the bitter and then focus on the sweet. Because happy people always let the sweet outweigh the bitter. In dermatology we see this a lot. For example, in acne we get rid of all the “blackheads” and pustules and “bumps” but then once your acne is clear the discolorations or scarring are more apparent because they aren’t camoflauged with acne. Your acne is gone, SWEET! You have discolorations and scars now, BITTER. Happy people are just excited their acne is gone and that’s what they focus on while we treat their scarring with laser or whatever other treatment. Sad people just get discouraged that their skin doesn’t look like the Proactive infomercials and give up on their skin. We see it often after cosmetic procedures like Botox and Fillers. We fix the “big” problems like deep lines and then all the patient can notice is the tiny small fine line left behind. Happy people are so excited that the Botox and Filler fixed the big problems they came in for. Sad people just focus on the fine, tiny line they never noticed before and feel dissappointed. So this week when I have my baby I’m going to role model after all my happy patients. All my patients that know how to be satisfied, happy people just by how they deal with the bittersweet situations in life. I admire those positive thinkers that always make the sweet take control of the bitter. Part of why I love my job is being around all you people that inspire me to make my life better. I love all you patients that teach me lessons like how to deal with change and the bittersweet. I know you didn’t get a lot of skin advice this week but I hope you all will consider this post to be sweet.

This is my last post pregnant and I can’t wait to talk at ya next week with a wild sleep deprived post! See you Monday if you need any last minute skin stuff, Nina

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The time of year when tattoos are being shown off has approached. Tattoos have gone through phases over the decades in terms of popularity. It seems the young folks have a thing for them at the current time (my 20 year old step-son included). There are some risks to your skin that you probably never thought of that I think you should know before deciding to get a tattoo. Risks other than the idea that maybe you aren’t going to want your girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s name tattooed on your right buttock forever. Here are a few things to consider for your skin health before you tattoo it forever.

1. Infection- I think people are of the idea that if they go to a “clean” or “reputable” tattoo parlor then they don’t have to worry about infection. Here is the thing.  Any time you break the skin barrier you are opening yourself up for infection. Ever heard of CA-MRSA? It stands for community acquired methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus which is a bacteria that lives all over our city and a lot of antibiotics don’t work at getting rid of it. If you come in contact with it and your skin is intact then you could probably be carrying it without any symptoms at all, then you get a tattoo and boom! Cellulitis or even an abscess (boil) in your tattoo that could then require drainage or antibiotics or worse, surgery. This could result in damage to the way the tattoo looks and likely a whole lot of unwanted pain.

2. Allergic Reaction- You could be allergic to the tattoo ink. And since every color and type of ink used is different you could have lots of tattoos and then all of the sudden get one to which you have a reaction. This can cause the tattoo to raise up and itch and get crusty and flat out miserable and ugly-not what you were going for I’m sure. Sometimes we can inject steroids into the tattoo to help this problem, sometimes we have to laser it to try to get the ink out of your skin. Sometimes they have to be cut out and replaced with a scar. If it’s a large tattoo this can be a real problem.

3. Skin cancer can hide in your tattoo- Think about it. If you have a black spot of melanoma arise on your natural colored skin it is going to be much easier to recognize than a black spot hiding in a black tattoo. It could delay diagnosis if hiding well enough. If you do have tattoos be aware of this and check them even closer for new or changing moles.

4. You change- Not only do your opinions, likes, dislikes and beliefs change with age but your skin changes too. Not only do you have to worry about the fact that you may not like the tattoo in 40 years, you also have to worry about whether or not a tattoo on your belly is going to look the same after 3 kids. I mean a stretch mark through a heart could actually look cool, turn it into an arrow or something. My eyebrows are lower than when I was 20 so keep this in mind when you ladies go get permanent make-up…. your eyelids most def will be lower in 30 years after all that gravity takes its toll.

5. They hurt- This isn’t a risk really, more like a fact. It’s just one of the main reasons I don’t have a tattoo, ouch! It amazes me how many people fear getting their blood drawn yet have multiple tattoos? huh?

I actually do like tattoos, on other people. I just feel for the people that have one of the above happen to them and feel helpless or feel like no one ever told them these things could happen. I’m for sure not saying don’t get a tattoo, I just want you to be educated on all the risks so you can weigh them against the benefits properly. IF you change your mind after a tattoo just remember, Johnson Dermatology has a laser to help you get rid of it!

“Just because the past didn’t turn out like you wanted it to, doesn’t mean your future can’t be better than you’ve ever imagined.”  -unknown

Have a happy week, hope to see you at the clinic this week because it’s my last week before maternity leave! Talk atcha soon, Nina

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