News and Events

Sunscreen is a hugely important tool in the fight against the adverse effects of the sun. It even protects against melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. But not all sunscreens are created equal. You probably already know that expired sunscreen will do you no good, but you might not be sure how to choose a quality sunscreen.

First, toss last year’s bottles to eliminate any confusion. Then hit the store to find a new one. When you shop, look for the following to make sure your sunscreen choice makes the cut:

SPF 30 or higher: SPF stands for “sun protection factor”, and it indicates the product’s ability to screen or block the sun’s harmful rays. SPF 30 effectively screens 96.7 percent of UVB rays, so stick with that number or higher.

Broad Spectrum: This means the sunscreen protects you from both UVA and UVB rays, both of which cause cancer.

Water Resistant: Choose a sunscreen that is water resistant between 40 and 80 minutes. Bear in mind that sunscreens are no longer allowed to say they are “waterproof” or “sweatproof” because it is misleading.

After you’ve found proper sunscreen, you might need a refresher on how and when to apply it. Here are some tips:

• Use enough! About an ounce (a shot glass full) will cover an average adult body. You need to slather it on all exposed areas. Don’t forget about hands, feet, neck and lips!
• Apply sunscreen BEFORE going outdoors or being exposed to sunlight indoors.
• You need to give the product 15 minutes to absorb so it effectively protects skin.
• Reapply after two hours or after swimming or sweating excessively.

One last tip: Don’t wait until summertime to start using sunscreen–it really is a year-round necessity. Some part of you is exposed to the sun’s rays every day — when you’re driving in your car, walking from the parking lot to the grocery store, or even through the windows in your home or at work. So protect yourself before being exposed.

Tired of seeing evidence of sun damage on your skin? Austin-based Zimmet Vein & Dermatology offers peels, fractional resurfacing, microdermabrasion and pulsed light rejuvenation as solutions to the problems caused by sun damage.

Contact our office to set up a consultation and find out which treatment is best for you.

Although it is the most life-threatening form of skin cancer, melanoma is not the only kind of skin cancer that is currently affecting millions in the U.S. and worldwide. To further raise awareness during Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, we’d like to give you a quick rundown of the two most common forms of skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma: This is the most common form of skin cancer — about 8 out of 10 skin cancers are BCC. These cancers typically develop on areas that have had lots of sun exposure, like the head, neck and hands. When you do a self-exam, look for the following:

• Dome-shaped skin growth–often pink or skin-colored.
• Shiny pink or red bumps or patches
• Open sores that bleed easily and won’t heal
• Elevated growth with central depression

BCC’s can take any of these forms. The cancers tend to grow slowly, and they rarely spread to lymph nodes or other parts of the body, making them the least dangerous. If basal cell carcinoma does go untreated, though, it can grow into nearby tissues beneath the skin and do damage. It is common for this type of cancer to recur, often within five years of the last one.

Squamous cell carcinoma: This is the second most common form of skin cancer — about 2 out of 10 skin cancers are SCC. These cancers commonly develop on sun-exposed areas, especially the face, lips, ears, neck and backs of hands, but they can also appear inside the mouth and genitals, or begin in scars or actinic keratoses. Look for the following signs of SCC on your skin:

• Rough-feeling bump or lump
• Open sore that won’t heal
• Flat, reddish, scaly patch
• Dome-shaped growth that gets crusty or bleeds

If squamous cell carcinoma is allowed to advance it will spread to lymph nodes and distant parts of the body, causing severe health problems.

The good news is that almost every form of basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma can be cured, especially when the cancer is found and treated early. If you have any concerns about a spot or patch on your skin, the best thing you can do is make an appointment with a dermatologist who can assess the spot and perform a skin biopsy.

Your health is worth it. Contact Zimmet Vein & Dermatology today to get started.

This month is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, so if you have been waiting for some added motivation to get your skin examined by a physician, let that fact be it.

Health organizations all over the country are stepping up efforts to raise the public’s awareness of skin cancer. A large part of the effort is dedicated to encouraging people to get their skin checked out by a dermatologist, and for good reason: the majority of skin cancers are successfully treated when detected early.

Wondering what to expect at your dermatologist’s office during your full-body skin exam? Don’t worry, it’s a short and painless visit, but a very important one. Dermatologists are specially trained to analyze the spots or lesions on your skin, and determine which ones might be cancerous. Expect a head-to-toe visual examination while wearing a hospital gown that will take about 10-15 minutes, depending on how many moles you have. Digital or photographic images of spots may be taken, and if there is a suspicious mole, a biopsy might be performed to confirm or deny the presence of cancer.

To prepare for your exam, do the following:

• Perform a self-exam before your appointment and take note of any suspicious looking spots or changing spots on the skin. Report your findings to your doctor.
• Remove nail polish from fingernails and toenails, as skin cancers can form on nails or nail beds and will need to be inspected by the dermatologist.
• Write down any questions you have about preventing or treating skin cancer so you can ask them at the appointment.

Aside from doing your best to stay protected from the sun’s harmful rays, early detection is your best bet against all forms of skin cancer, including melanoma–the deadliest kind.

Need to make your appointment? Contact Zimmet Vein & Dermatology online or give us a call at (512) 402-6694.

Unlike some forms of cancer, melanoma is preventable and highly treatable when caught early. Signs of the cancer are visible on the surface of skin, so the first line of defense against melanoma progression is you. Protect yourself by conducting monthly self-exams to inspect moles and other marks on your body for abnormalities or changes.

To prepare for your self-exam, first find out what to look for by getting familiar with the “ABCDs” of melanoma. If you see any of the following signs, make an appointment with your dermatologist.

Asymmetry: Look for moles that appear different on one half from the other half.

Border: The borders of healthy moles are smooth and defined, not irregular, jagged or blurry.

Color: Look for spots with uneven or intensely dark color. Some can show shades of red, blue or white.

Diameter: Melanomas tend to be larger than 6mm (about the size of a pencil eraser or a pea), but they can be smaller.

For the exam find a private, well-lit room and a hand-held mirror. Your goal will be to inspect every inch of your skin from head to toe, as melanoma can develop on any part of the body — even if that part has never been exposed to the sun.

• Check your face, neck, ears and scalp. Use another mirror to check hard-to-see spots.
• Examine arms, including underarms, hands, between fingers and under fingernails.
• Check shoulders, chest and torso. Don’t forget your sides.
• Look over legs and feet, including the soles of feet and the spaces between toes.
• Use the hand mirror to check the back, buttocks and genital area.

If you see anything out of the ordinary, don’t hesitate to make an appointment at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology. The sooner melanoma is detected, the better your chances of full recovery. Contact us today.

May is Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, and to kick it off, the American Academy of Dermatology has designated the first Monday in May “Melanoma Monday”. The Academy is asking people to wear the color orange on that day to raise awareness as well as to motivate the public to get skin cancer detected early through regular skin exams. To find out more about the SPOT Skin Cancer™ initiative, click here.

A few facts about skin cancer that might surprise you:

• Skin cancer is the most prevalent of all cancers in the United States.

• Current studies show that 1 in 5 Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.

• Basal and squamous cell are the most common types of skin cancer.

• However, melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer: it is responsible for 75 percent of skin cancer deaths in the U.S.

• Melanoma is also the most common form of skin cancer for those 25 to 29 years old.

• One person dies from melanoma skin cancer every hour.

• Melanoma can almost always be cured when detected early.

• The five-year survival rate for those whose melanoma was detected before it spread to the lymph nodes was 98 percent.

The American Academy of Dermatology encourages people to prevent skin cancer by protecting themselves from sun exposure, to detect signs of skin cancer by regularly looking for abnormal or changing spots on the skin and to live by reaching out to a dermatologist as soon as they see anything changing, itching or bleeding.

If you do believe a mole or lesion looks abnormal, contact Zimmet Vein & Dermatology at your earliest convenience to make an appointment for a thorough skin exam. Our number is (512) 402-6694.

If you want to lose weight, there are plenty of products and fad diets out there that claim they can help: the no-carb or low-fat diets, toning gels, weight loss patches and chewing gum, diet pills, special body wraps and even glasses that suppress appetite.

While they might temporarily give you the sense you’re making progress, these products are gimmicks that just waste your time and money. And yet, the weight loss industry in America pulls in billions of dollars each year from consumers who are struggling with being overweight or obese. Currently, 66 percent of the population fits into this category.

Even though it’s tough to hear (and even tougher to act upon), we know that for most people, the tried and true way to lose weight is by maintaining a healthy, balanced diet and by exercising regularly throughout the week.

But sometimes shedding pounds just isn’t enough to reach the body shape goals you have. Plenty of healthy individuals struggle to lose that last inch or two of stubborn belly fat, no matter how much they watch what they eat or how many crunches they do. That’s where CoolSculpting comes in.

Unlike the gimmicks, CoolSculpting is a science-driven, clinically-proven fat reduction system. Developed by research scientists at Harvard, CoolSculpting is a completely non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that targets stubborn fat cells associated with the “love handles” and “muffin tops” of a person’s middle section.

Fat cells are uniquely susceptible to cold temperatures, and researchers found that by applying prolonged, controlled cooling you can trigger natural fat cell elimination–all without causing any damage to surrounding cells or tissues.

So in just one one-hour procedure that requires no downtime, your clothes will fit better and your body will take the shape you haven’t been able to achieve through diet and exercise.

Right now at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology, we are offering CoolSculpting treatments at new, lower prices. Contact our Austin, Texas, office to find out more.

On May 9th, the Thursday before Mother’s Day, moms across America will take the night off and celebrate National Mom’s Nite Out. Any and all mothers who want to participate will be doing so at local events held at Simon Malls, in living rooms and even online through social networks like Facebook and Twitter. The point is for moms to get away from the daily grind and treat themselves to a little socializing, shopping and pampering. Last year’s event drew over 11 million participants!

It all started five years ago by a frustrated Florida mother who realized she and her kids had spent every Mother’s Day cooking for and doting on her mother-in-law instead of enjoying a little special treatment herself. She wanted just one day (or evening) she could truly have to herself… and she quickly found out she wasn’t alone!

For those celebrating in Austin, there will be official events taking place at Barton Creek Square and the Arboretum. In addition to fun giveaways, moms will also benefit from interactive demonstrations courtesy of the Rethink Varicose Veins campaign, a sponsor of National Mom’s Nite Out.

Over 30 million Americans suffer from varicose veins, but many are under-educated about the problem. The Rethink Varicose Veins campaign aims to change that by encouraging individuals to think differently about varicose veins and understand that if left untreated, varicose veins can progress to a more serious form of venous disease called chronic venous insufficiency (CVI).

The campaign is also providing a self-assessment online for individuals to take. When the assessment is complete, participants have the option to find a doctor and share the assessment with their loved ones through email, Facebook and Twitter.

To raise awareness and boost participation, the Rethink campaign is partnering with the popular women’s magazine, MORE, in sponsoring a sweepstakes for all of those who take the self-assessment. Once you take the assessment your name can be entered for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid trip for two to the Miraval Spa in Tucson, Arizona, where the winner and a friend will enjoy a luxurious weekend of spa treatments, yoga classes and health and wellness seminars led by the editors of MORE and other special guests.

So what are you waiting for? Visit rethinkvv.com to take and share the assessment, and enter for your chance to win today.

There’s no doubt that a good number of us are product junkies… Seemingly never satisfied with the ones we have, we tend to collect various skin care products, hoping that the newest one will have that magical ingredient that will solve all of our problems. The thing is, we often hold on to the older products as well, thinking we can go back to them if the new products don’t work out.

But like food and makeup, skin care products expire (it would be worrisome if they didn’t). Using skin care creams, gels, lotions and the like after their expiration date is never a good idea: Not only are the active ingredients rendered ineffective, bacteria will have accumulated in the product.

In general, a product’s shelf life depends on its ingredients, packaging and storage. Each product is a bit different, but you’ll know it’s time to toss it if any of these statements are true:

• The product has changed color
• The product’s texture has changed
• There is a strange or rancid scent coming from product
• There are small black (bacterial) spots in the product

To help you out further, we’ve listed the typical expiration dates for these common products.

Acne Products: A typical acne cream will last about 4-6 months. Salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide, two common ingredients, break down rather quickly. If you don’t need it that often, put it in your refrigerator to maximize potency.
Moisturizers: Basic moisturizers that do not have anti-aging ingredients can last a little over a year. But moisturizers with active ingredients will expire in a year or less. Keep in mind that any product with a vitamin ingredient (C, E, A) will begin to degrade once it is exposed to oxygen.
Peels and Masks: After about three months, it’s probably time to toss. This is especially true if the peel contains either an alpha hydroxy or glycolic acid, because after a few months its buffering agents begin to evaporate, leaving your skin exposed to the irritating acid ingredients.
Retinoid Creams: When packaged in an opaque tube, these creams can last 9-11 months. Again, the vitamin A in the product begins to break down the moment it is exposed to oxygen.
Scrubs: Facial scrubs are pretty hardy… they can last up to two years. Avoid purchasing a scrub that is in a tub or jar you have to dip into, as that allows bacteria to collect over time.
Sunscreens: Sunscreens can last 1-2 years, depending on how they are stored. To make it last, keep it in a cool, dark place.

To help products last longer, store them away from heat and light. Also, look for products that come in an airless pump that will keep products fresher for longer.

As for those pesky skin problems, quality products will only get you so far. For serious TLC for your skin, take a look at the treatments we offer here at Zimmet Vein & Dermatology. We address everything from skin laxity to sun damage. Give us a call today to learn more. (512) 402-6694.

Compared to many Americans, Austin folks are a pretty fit bunch. We cherish opportunities to exercise, especially when it also means enjoying the beauty of Lady Bird Lake or the Greenbelt. Running in particular is the exercise of choice for thousands of Austinites… but are those with varicose veins barred from it?

First, there is a myth to clear up about running and varicose veins. Some are worried that running causes varicose veins to form–but it’s simply not true. In fact, running can actually help prevent varicose veins by improving your blood circulation.

If they are beginning to form, though, varicose veins might keep you from running. Some symptoms of varicose veins include swelling, heaviness and fatigue–which can make running less enjoyable or even painful. If you want to continue running at the onset of varicose veins, keep these things in mind:

• Running is a high-impact activity that will likely aggravate swelling, so reduce that impact by avoiding hard pavement. Instead choose a softer, more shock-absorbent surface to run on like grass, dirt or the rubber of an athletics track.
• Wearing compression stockings while you run won’t be the most comfortable option, but the pressure will increase blood flow help you not feel as fatigued.
• Keep an eye on your vein health, and stop running if bulging veins become acute.

If your varicose veins are already a problem, it is best not to run. You may still get exercise by going on walks, swimming or engaging in any other low-impact physical activity. To return to a more active lifestyle, it is imperative to seek treatment for your varicose veins. Dr. Zimmet offers five different non-surgical treatments for varicose veins.

Call our office today at (512) 402-6694 to find out more.