Dr. Taub’s Letter, Fall 2014 Newsletter
Dear patients, colleagues and friends,
Well, summer is in our rear-view mirrors and we are starting to focus on the road ahead. I know we are all hoping that the drive won’t be nearly as frigid and snowy as it was last year!
Now that kids are back in school and you are settling into your fall routine, it is time to schedule any medical visits that you may have had to put off during the hectic summer months. You should make these appointments now, because availability gets scarce toward the end of the year, when most people have met their deductibles. Also, it is important to schedule now if you want to get your children in for a December visit!
The Dermatology world is very pleased that the Surgeon General is pushing an initiative to highlight just how dangerous excessive sun is to our health. Stating that “tanned skin is damaged skin”, the Surgeon General is leading our effort to help everyone understand the hazards of sun exposure. I know that you have heard us harp over and over about the importance of protecting your skin. Perhaps we wouldn’t be so concerned if day in and day out, our full-body examinations weren’t still detecting SO many skin cancers! In the month of July alone, I personally removed 8 cancers from my patients’ lower legs. (By the way, the lower leg is an area often neglected even by people who routinely use sunscreen. We all tend to think that since the lower legs don’t burn easily, it’s not a big issue; however, your legs are exposed to a great deal of sun in the summer when the days are longer and you are wearing shorts, summer dresses and bathing suits. Removing skin cancer from the leg is much more difficult than from other areas of the body due to the fact that it doesn’t heal easily). I know it seems that there aren’t enough hours in the day to do all the things we are supposed to do: eat healthily, exercise, floss our teeth and use sunscreen. But, the fact is that each one of these things is important to maintaining our physical well-being. With life expectancies continuing to climb, it is more important than ever to take care of your body…it is the only one you are going to get!
Of all the fun events we held over the summer, my very favorite was the ‘Pamper, Protect and Play’ event in Glencoe. We had face-painting, a scavenger hunt and guitar players for the little ones. We also pampered the moms with makeovers, hydrodermabrasions and waxing — and we protected everyone with sunscreen applications. Perfect weather didn’t hurt either!
People often ask me how our new office is going and I can honestly tell them “Great!” The people of Glencoe have welcomed us with open arms and we enjoy the beautiful town. Our office is brand new, so it is very nice to work in. Stop by and visit us if you get a chance!
Don’t forget to RSVP to our 11th annual Open House! The event will take place on Thursday, November 13th at our Lincolnshire location. Every year, we have an enjoyable time with drinks, food and plenty of educational activities. If you haven’t ever attended an Open House, please do — and bring a friend! It is a fun way to find out what we have to offer, as well as to see live treatment demonstrations.
When you receive this I will just be getting back from South Africa where I attended the Dermatologic & Aesthetic Surgery International League (DASIL) conference. The League’s mission is to create a global community for the open exchange of knowledge and innovation among Dermatologists. By establishing a higher standard of care, people living around the world will benefit from safer, more effective dermatologic and aesthetics treatments. I plan to take a few days before the conference starts to visit Cape Town and after the conference I am off to a game reserve for four days with some of the other faculty and conference attendees! I look forward to telling you all about my trip in our winter 2015 newsletter.
Have a great fall and Holiday Season!
Amy Forman Taub, MD
And the Staff of Advanced Dermatology and skinfo® Specialty Skincare Boutique