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Dr. Sommerville has appeared on....
- “It’s a Woman’s World”, Channel 16 Montgomery Municipal Cable on April 16th and 23rd at 8 PM as a recognized expert on skin cancer, related topics and controversies.
Fraxel™ Laser
Featured in national media and many beauty magazines, Fraxel laser has been getting unprecedented attention as a true innovation in the area of skin rejuvenation. It treats wrinkles, melasma, dark spots, and acne scars. Due to the “fractional technology”, thousands of tiny but deep columns of skin known as microscopic treatment zones are affected leaving the surrounding tissue untouched. This allows the skin to heal much faster than if the entire area were treated at once. Clinical experience suggests that on average, an effective treatment regimen is 3 to 5 sessions spaced about 2 to 4 weeks apart. Results are immediate and progressive. Optimal improvement occurs in about 3 months. Only topical anesthesia is required in most cases. The procedure takes approximately 25 minutes for the full face. Transient discomfort, redness, exfoliation and swelling are typically the only side effects of the treatment. Make-up can be applied soon after the treatment. Fraxel is also appropriate for treatment of the sun damage on the neck, chest, hands and arms.
Click here to learn about our Fraxel™ Laser Rejuvenation Promotion!
SAPPHIRE 3™ PHOTO ABRASION THERAPY
THE NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART SWISS TECHNOLOGY representing the ultimate combination of no-downtime, painless rejuvenation treatments for fine lines and wrinkles, enlarged/clogged pores, hyperpigmentation, acne, scars, anti-aging skin rejuvenation and more…
The treatment includes:
- The Sapphire Abrasion named after actual Sapphire granules used to painlessly remove the outer most surface layers of the skin.
- Vitamin and nutrient infused exfoliation delivering the natural benefits of sweet almond, sweet almond oil, glycol, field horsetail and citrus limonum.
- Relaxing Massage and Lymphatic Drainage to detoxify and regenerate the tissues.
- Light therapy with red monochromatic light delivered via 24 carat gold-plated handles stimulating collagen production and promoting elasticity. Microcurrent is simultaneously delivered to stimulate muscle toning, tightening and lifting.
- Light therapy with blue LED light which can destroy bacteria known to cause acne while calming and healing the inflamed skin.
NEW WRINKLE FILLERS
Juvéderm® and Perlane® have recently been added to the ever growing repertoire of facial wrinkle fillers allowing us to truly customize the way that we approach facial volume replacement. There has never been a more exciting time to practice cosmetic dermatology! We welcome you to call and schedule an appointment at Chevy Chase Dermatology to learn about these and other new and exciting products!
INNOVATIVE FACIAL
This powerful anti-aging, smoothing, softening and hydrating facial reduces fine lines and encourages skin renewal by delivering the benefits of sugar cane extract (a source of glycolic acid), citric acid, apple extract, retinol, vitamin B3, aloe vera, licorice extract, grape seed and rosemary extract, and green tea. It awakens your senses evoking aromas of cinnamon spice and peppermint.
A popular addition to the Innovative Facial is an Eye Bright Treatment targeting the special needs of this delicate area to reduce under-eye puffiness and dark circles, encourage microcirculation, and provide maximum hydration.
WHAT'S NEW IN SUN PROTECTION
The Food and Drug Administration has approved Mexoryl® SX, a breakthrough in sun protection! Available in Europe since 1993, Mexoryl® SR protects the skin from the harmful short ultraviolet A (UVA) rays and does not degrade when exposed to the sun which has been a concern with most of previously available UVA sunscreens. UVA (short and long) rays account for up to 95% of the UV radiation that reaches the Earth. Unlike the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays, which remain primarily at the top (epidermal) layer of the skin, UVA rays penetrate deeper and account for more that 80% of the damage that occurs in the skin in terms of aging. UVA rays are present all year long and can penetrate through windows and clouds. The first product containing Mexoryl® SR in the U.S. is ANTHELIOS SX.
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INTERVIEW WITH DR. SOMMERVILLE ABOUT SKIN CANCER MELANOMA AND REDUCING YOUR RISK
Q. Are there regional differences in the U.S. in terms of level of awareness about the damaging effects of sun exposure as it relates to the developments of skin cancers?
Dr. Sommerville: Yes, in fact Washington, D.C. emerged as the most sun-smart city out of 32 metropolitan regions whose adult residents were recently polled on their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors toward tanning and sun protection according to the survey conducted by the American Academy of Dermatology! New York and Miami took the second and third place respectively.
Q. That is the most deadly form of skin cancer and how common is it?
Dr. Sommerville: Malignant melanoma is the most deadly form of skin cancer. Even though it only accounts for 4% of skin cancers, it is responsible for 80% of all skin cancer deaths. Incidence of melanoma is increasing at a faster rate than any other cancer in the United States. Melanoma is the most commonly occurring cancer in women between ages 25 and 29 and is second only to breast cancer in women between the ages of 30 and 34. The incidence of invasive melanoma has been rising for several decades. Overall, it is currently the sixth most common cancer in both males and females. Age-adjusted incidence nearly tripled between 1973 and 2003. Only if detected at an early stage, melanoma is a curable cancer in the vast majority of cases.
Q. Is excessive exposure to the sun responsible for this alarming increase in the incidence of malignant melanoma?
Dr. Sommerville: Although chronic unprotected sun exposure is definitely harmful, it is primarily the intermittent sunburning that promotes developments of melanoma. This “intermittency” prevents the skin from adapting to the harmful UV rays. Just one severe sunburn in childhood doubles the chances of developing melanomas later in life. Yet more than 40% of white children under age 12 are burned at least once.
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Q. Are doctors doing enough to diagnose melanomas at its earliest curable stage?
Dr. Sommerville: American Cancer Society recommends routine professional skin examinations every three years for people ages 20 to 40 and yearly for anyone over 40. Unfortunately, to date, nondermatologist clinicians do not consistently, routinely examine skin. In the year 2000, only 15% of adults reported having a skin exam conducted by a doctor according to the National Health Interview Surveys. Dermatologists do not boast much better rates of performing full-body skin exams. Only 30% of dermatologists report performing routine full-body skin screening; 49% screen only those at higher risk of skin cancer. Overall only 25% of melanomas are diagnosed by physicians. Therefore, skin self-examination may be the only thorough skin exam that most patients experience. A 1996 study on skin self-examination indicated that it may reduce melanoma mortality by 63%!
Q. How to effectively diagnose an early melanoma?
Dr. Sommerville: The key to early diagnosis of melanoma is the ABCDE acronym representing an analytical method for the evaluation of pigmented lesions. Melanoma often manifests some or all of the ABCDE features, namely asymmetry (A), border irregularity (B), color variability (C), diameter greater than a pencil eraser or 6 mm (D), and evolution of change (E).
Another way of making an early clinical diagnosis is the “Ugly Duckling Concept”- the observation that nevi (moles) in the same individual tend to resemble one another, and that melanoma often deviates from this pattern thus emphasizing the importance of not just evaluating the characteristics of the lesion in question, but also comparing it to that of surrounding lesions, looking for an outlier in the background of similar appearing moles, a lesion that looks and feels different than the patient’s other moles.
Unfortunately, a very dangerous subtype of melanoma, nodular melanoma representing approximately 20% of all melanomas, tends to grow very rapidly, and is notorious for lacking the classic ABCDE signs.
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