Tanning themselves to death: a new teen fad.

Incidence rates of melanoma continue to rise, especially in young women, despite the enormous body of evidence that identifies ultraviolet radiation as a skin carcinogen. It is time for a change in societal norms, an increase in counseling of young adults about the risks of indoor tanning facilities, and to prevent young adults from tanning by introducing new legislation.

An ounce of prevention.

Tanned skin has long been viewed as attractive in today's culture. With more recent developments in the benefits of vitamin D as well as because of strong marketing by the indoor tanning industry, more individuals have been tanning indoors and outside. Many people don't realize that the ultraviolet light they seek to tan their skin and boost their vitamin D levels is the same radiation that causes aging of the skin and skin cancers.

Herpes simplex virus: it's more than a cold sore.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common office problem and may be trivialized as "just a cold sore." HSV infections may cause great concern to the otherwise healthy patient due to psychosocial issues and may lead to morbidity and mortality in certain populations. This article discusses clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of orolabial/genital herpes and presents answers to questions frequently posed to primary care providers and specialists.

Effects of chemotherapy on skin and hair.

Skin and hair are both notable and noticeable accessory targets of chemotherapy and can become a point of discussion when your patient asks, "Is this problem happening because of my chemo?" This article will attempt to assist physicians in recognizing and answering this question.

Common sports-related dermatologic infections.

All athletes have an increased risk of cutaneous infections. In both team and individual sports the skin is exposed to a range of infectious organisms. While effective therapies exist, preventive measures can decrease outbreaks of most sports-related dermatologic infections.