Page 28 - Sandy Jackman Pantai Hotel

What makes this practice so unique is that although many of
the physicians are well versed in the many procedures com- Expert Advice on
pleted in their office, they all tend to specialize in the areas
they most enjoy and to which they feel most committed.
Dr. Mark A. Vierra is a board-certified dermatologist who re- Avoiding Skin Cancer
ceived his training at the University of California, San Diego.
Dr. Vierra does most of the Botox and fillers in the office and
works with the latest filler that is offered, Juvederm voluma Dr. Ruth Larson’s area of expertise is MOHS Surgery. She
XC. It is used for cheek augmentation. deals with very difficult skin cancers primarily on the central
face. Sometimes her patients have been treated before and
Dr. Francis A. Barber, Jr. is a board-certified dermatologist
who received his training at the Naval Hospital, San Diego, could not be cured. The procedure Dr. Larson employs has
CA. He received additional training in skin pathology at the a 99% cure rate. This is an outstanding success rate, but we
Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, and is certified for would all hope to never have to deal with being told that we
special competency in dermatopathology by the American have any type of cancer. So I asked Dr. Larson what our read-
Boards of Pathology and Dermatology.
ers could do to help avoid getting skin cancer, and what signs
should make them pay a visit to their dermatologist.
Dr. Lynn Shipman is an acclaimed skin cancer specialist and Dr. Larson suggests that if you develop a growth that lasts for
has completed an additional fellowship in dermatologic sur- more than one month you should consult your physician.
gery and Mohs micrographic surgery at Tufts New England
Medical Center in Boston. To protect yourself against Skin Cancer.
Always Wear Sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or above and the
Dr. Elizabeth E. Vierra is a board-certified dermatologist who words Broad Spectrum on it even if you are just walking around
enjoys pediatric, adolescent and adult dermatology as well in the sun.
as surgical dermatology. She enjoys all aspects of derma-
tology and all ages. The SPF number refers to the ability of a sunscreen to block
ultraviolet (UVB) rays which cause sunburns.
Dr. Vanessa London is a board certified dermatologist and SPF 100: After seeing commercials for SPFs as high as 100.
a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. I asked if it made sense to get the highest SPF available. Her
London particularly enjoys helping her patients with condi-
tions that impact their quality of life such as severe acne, answer finally helped me understand. She explained that “the
age spots, eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer, and blistering SPF rating is a measure of the time it would take you to sunburn
conditions. if you were not wearing sunscreen, as opposed to the time
it would take with sunscreen on.” More confusing is that the
Leah Larson Brown, N.P is the daughter of Dr. Ruth Larson,
the founder of this dermatology practice, and Alan Larson, number ratings are not consumer friendly. An SPF of 60 is not
M.D, a local gastroenterologist and longtime PPH board double the coverage of SPF 30. In reality you will only get 5-6%
member. Leah acquired her R.N degree from the University more coverage with an SPF rating of 60 than with the SPF 30.
of San Diego and worked at UCSD’s Thornton Hospital in Broad Spectrum: Since the SPF rating only protects you
La Jolla on a medical-surgery ward. Following her dream to
practice dermatology, Leah continued her medical training against the UVB rays it is important to be sure that the sun-
and graduated with honors from the University of San Diego screen has the words Broad Spectrum on it as well. This is the
as a Nurse Practitioner. protection against the UVA rays. These rays are more closely
28 Dr. Julie Gladsjo is a skin cancer specialist, who also holds linked to deeper skin damage.

a doctorate in psychology and is the newest member of the Water Proof Sunscreen: I also asked if there was such a
Bernardo Dermatology family. thing as water proof sunscreen. She corrected me, letting me
know that the word waterproof was not allowed to be used. In
And of Course, last but not least Dr. Ruth A. Larson is a skin its place the companies now use the word water resistant, and
cancer specialist, experienced with a wide range of surgical
techniques, including Mohs micrographic surgery for the cautioned that every time you come in from the water, even if
removal of aggressive skin cancer. Dr. Larson is a member you were using water resistant sunscreen, you should still reap-
of the American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery. She ply the sunscreen.
was on the clinical teaching staff at UCSD and at the VA for Put More Sunscreen On: The proper amount of sunscreen to
over 25 years, but now has retired from teaching dermatolo-
gists.Dr. Larson has among the highest cure rate for non- apply is about the size of a golf ball. Sunscreen should be reap-
melanoma skin cancer; over 99% cure rate in over 7,000 plied every two hours even if you don’t go in the water.
Mohs cases with a 30 year follow-up. Do We Get Skin Cancer From Childhood? I had also heard
that any skin cancer you get in your lifetime came from when
“I had a dream of becoming a dermatologist and the dream
came true. I had a Dream of having my own practice. I had you were a child. Dr. Larson said that although this was thought
a dream of giving the highest level of care I could give and to be true for a while, it has since been proven to be incorrect.
I gave my employees the book “The Day Maker” because It’s like an adding machine. We get sun damage added whenev-
when my patients leave my office I want them thinking wow, er we get sun exposure. For melanoma it seems to have some
I have never been treated so well.” Out of curiosity and not
wanting to interrupt the flow of our interview, I later went on connection to bad burns that we got as children, since babies
the internet to research what this book was all about and it and children don’t have the protective thick skin yet.
helped me better understand Dr. Larson. The concept of the Does Eye Color Matter? Surprisingly yes, blue eyed individuals
book is…Why rely on random acts of kindness when you are more susceptible to skin cancer. Also, if you are in England
can intentionally show kindness and help to make some-
one’s day. This is such a true representation of the bubbly and drive on the left side of the street you are more likely to get
personality of Dr. Larson. cancer on right side of your body. In the US you are more likely
When asked if her dream turned out as she had imagined, to get cancer on the left side of the body since dangerous rays
she couldn’t have given a better answer. “It turned out bet- can travel through car windows.
ter than I dreamed. I honestly would pay to go to work.”