Blog Archives - Page 9 of 9 - Dr. Maral Skelsey

THE WASHINGTON BALLET IS ON ITS TOES WHEN IT COMES TO SKIN CANCER…

May 15, 2016/in Blog, Skin Cancer/by admin

On Friday, May 6, 2016, The Washington Ballet took a proactive approach to keeping its performers healthy by offering skin cancer screenings. Dr. Skelsey, who is a member of The Washington Ballet Board of Directors, performed the highly recommended, annual full body skin cancer screening on the dancers and other members of the ballet company utilizing new, state of the art, non-invasive, diagnostic technology, DermTech®. A simple adhesive patch is used to detect the presence of cancer in suspicious lesions.

The new Washington Ballet Health and Wellness Fund is committed to making services available to its dancers that protects their health, safety and wellbeing. Under the auspices of the health and Wellness Fund Dr. Maral Skelsey, a member of TWB board of directors, provided skin cancer screenings for the company during Melanoma Awareness Month in May.

BATTLING SKIN CANCER IN A HIGH RISK POPULATION

November 17, 2015/in Blog, Skin Cancer/by admin

The Dermatologic Surgery Center of Washington helps to battle skin cancer in one of the world’s most vulnerable populations. Each year Dr. Skelsey and her staff volunteer at the Australian Embassy Health Fair where they do skin cancer screenings for embassy personnel.

Australia and New Zealand have one of the highest incidence and mortality rates of melanoma in the world, according to Australia’s Department of Health and Aging. Fair-skinned populations that migrated from Britain and Europe to areas with high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation like Australia and New Zealand, have experienced a jump in the incidence of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.*
This year Physician’s Assistant Cynthia Wallace performed more than 30 full body scans at the October 30 fair.

Australians battle skin cancer on their own turf with ongoing research and a preventative program worth noting here in the US: Australian researchers recently released a study abstract revealing that Nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3, significantly reduces the incidence of nonmelanoma skin cancers among people who have had a previous basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.

One of the most successful health campaigns in Australia’s history was launched by Cancer Council Australia in 1980. Sid the seagull, wearing board shorts, t-shirt and a hat, tap-danced his way across TV screens singing a catchy jingle to remind viewers of three easy ways of protecting against skin cancer.

Slip, Slop, Slap! It sounds like a breeze when you say it like that Slip, Slop, Slap! In the sun we always say “Slip Slop Slap!” Slip, Slop, Slap! Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen and slap on a hat, Slip, Slop, Slap! You can stop skin cancer – say: “Slip, Slop, Slap!”

*National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University

TOPS IN HER FIELD

October 8, 2015/in Blog/by admin

The results of the annual Top Doctors survey conducted by Washingtonian magazine are out. The survey polled 12,000 primary care physicians in the District, Maryland and Virginia. They were asked who they would most trust to provide care for their patients in 40 different areas of specialization. Once again this year, Dr. Skelsey took top honors in the greater Washington, DC area for dermatology repeating her 2014 Top Doctor designation in the survey. Dr. Skelsey’s medical colleagues repeatedly recognize her as outstanding in her field due in part to her advanced training as a Mohs surgeon and skin cancer specialist.

CANCER IN MINORITIES ON PBS

September 24, 2015/in Blog, Skin Cancer/by admin

Don’t miss Dr. Maral Skelsey, Mohs surgeon on the PBS Vocal Point special “Cancer in Minorities” which airs on WHUT TV.

Thursday, September 24 at 8:30 AM
Saturday September 27 at 8:00 AM
Monday, September 28 at 8:30 AM
Thursday, October 1 at 9:00PM

Please check your local TV listings for the channel in your area.
Maral Kibarian Skelsey, MD, is Director of the Dermatologic Surgery Center of Washington in Chevy Chase, Maryland, which specializes in Mohs Surgery. Dr. Skelsey also serves as Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center and is Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology at Georgetown University School of Medicine.

GEORGETOWN’S TREND SETTING IZZY SALON JOINS FRONT LINE BATTLING SKIN CANCER

July 31, 2015/in Blog, Skin Cancer/by admin

The hair stylists of the Izzy Salon in Georgetown recently participated in a Skin Cancer Foundation skin cancer awareness program presented by Maral Kibarian Skelsey, MD, Washington, DC skin cancer specialist and MOHS surgeon. The ‘Heads Up’ program encourages dermatologists and beauty professionals to partner to help battle the US skin cancer epidemic.

According to The Skin Cancer Foundation, each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon. In January 2015 the Centers for Disease Control reported that the cost of treating skin cancer outpaced treatment costs for all other cancers combined by 5-fold from 2002 to 2011.

Izzy Salon owner, Isabelle Goetz, says she supports the program because her stylists regularly see areas of the skin, the scalp, ears and necks that clients don’t see. She adds that her clients also tend to be very busy people and probably would not notice a possible cancer. “In fact, several of our stylists have taken it upon themselves to suggest that a client see a dermatologist,” says Ms. Goetz “The program is saving lives,” adds Dr. Skelsey who is medical director of the Dermatologic Surgery Center of Washington in Chevy Chase, Maryland. “I’ve had several referrals from hair stylists. One patient had an advanced melanoma on her scalp that she was totally unaware of. The referral saved her from a life threatening situation.”

Dr. Skelsey also serves as Director of Dermatologic Surgery at Georgetown University Medical Center and is clinical associate professor of dermatology at Georgetown University School of Medicine. World renowned Isabelle Goetz Celebrity Hairstylist was professionally trained in France, then in 1993 Isabelle was recruited to work in the United States. Through more than two decades cutting and styling hair, Isabelle has earned a stellar reputation with devoted high profile political clientele and celebrities alike.

The ‘Heads Up’ program is free to interested salons. Please contact Adrienne Cea at the Skin Cancer Foundation at 212-725-5176 x114 or by email at acea@skincancer.org.

HEAT RASH

July 6, 2015/in Blog, Issues/Advice/by admin

When it’s hot and humid, sweat glands can become blocked by excess perspiration, trapping sweat beneath the skin and causing a red, bumpy, prickly rash — heat rash. It’s more common among babies, whose sweat glands are immature, and among people who aren’t accustomed to heat and humidity, says Maral Skelsey, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical School. Skelsey says tight-fitting clothing can further encourage the rash to develop by trapping sweat against the skin instead of allowing it to evaporate.

In babies, Skelsey says, the condition tends to resolve on its own; keeping a baby cool and lightly dressed — or even naked if the temperature is warm enough — is usually all that’s required. Adults, she says, may wish to treat the rash with over-the-counter topical steroid cream (to calm the itch), calamine lotion or anhydrous lanolin, an over-the-counter balm that can help keep skin ducts from getting blocked. Avoid getting overheated in the first place by taking breaks from outdoor heat in air-conditioned spaces when possible. As your body gets acclimated to summer’s hot and muggy weather, Skelsey adds, it will become less prone to heat rash.

MY KINGDOM FOR…

February 10, 2015/in Blog/by admin

…a dermatologist who is a specialist with advanced training in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of hair loss.

Throughout history a woman’s hair has been considered her crowning glory. In the case of Queen Elizabeth the First of England, depicted in this 1588 painting, her lavish attire included considerable attention to covering her balding pate. She wore elaborate wigs to distract attention from her receding hairline.

Today long, lustrous locks are more popular than ever. So when a woman starts to lose her hair, it is often a traumatic and unexpected development. Happily today we know the causes of hair loss and can treat the condition.

Early treatment brings the best results. And while you might be inclined to seek over the counter treatments that make extravagant claims, it is best to rely on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved medications.

Given all the causes of hair loss and the fast pace of advances in medical science, the best first step in treating hair loss is to get a correct diagnosis. Visit the American Academy of Dermatology website or contact Dr. Maral Skelsey’s office for more information: 301.652.8081 or www.mohs-md.com.
Courtesy of the American Academy of Dermatology

WAHINGTONIAN 2014 TOP DOCTORS

March 26, 2014/in Blog/by admin

Dr. Skelsey is once again named to the Washingtonian Magazine’s Top Doctors list, the area’s top physicians as voted by their peers!

NEW AND ADVANCED SERVICES AT DSCW

February 11, 2014/in Blog/by admin

MelaFind® technology
for the non-invasive analysis of irregular moles. MelaFind uses 10 different wavelengths of light to examine a mole deep in the skin. It can obtain data from a mole as deep as 2.5 mm. The MelaFind system then utilizes advanced computer programs to analyze the features of a mole. In less than 60 seconds, we can determine if the mole has irregular growth patterns underneath the skin. This gives us additional information when deciding whether to biopsy an irregular mole. MelaFind was shown to detect melanoma at a rate of 98% resulting in fewer unnecessary biopsies of benign moles.
MelaFind is a trademark of MELA SCIENCES, INC

Photodynamic Therapy or Blu-U
a new treatment of actinic keratosis, the pre-cancerous lesions caused by excessive sun exposure. Actinic keratoses are considered to be the first step in the development of the type of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma. Approximately 10% of actinic keratoses can develop into squamous cell carcinoma. Left untreated, squamous cell carcinoma can metastasize and result in death.

Photodynamic therapy represents a significant therapeutic advance for patients with actinic keratosis. It is a extremely effective treatment that has high ratings for a cosmetic response. No scarring has been reported to date.

It is a convenient, in-office procedure that requires no anesthetic. A topical solution is applied to the skin. Pre-cancerous cells will absorb the medication and convert it to a form that is very sensitive to light. When the cells are exposed to the blue light illuminator in the office, a reaction occurs destroying the pre-cancerous cells.