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Miss Universe 1993 titleholder Dayanara Torres revealed on Monday she was diagnosed with skin cancer.

The 44-year-old made the tearful announcement in Spanish on Instagram Feb. 4 — World Cancer Day.

“Today I have some sad news,” the Puerto Rican beauty queen captioned in English. “I have been diagnosed with skin cancer ‘melanoma’ from a big spot/mole I never paid attention to, even though it was new, it had been growing for years & had an uneven surface.”

 

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Soy #Guerrera As mothers we are always taking care of everyone around us… our kids, family, friends & often we forget to take care of ourselves. ? Today I have some sad news… I have been diagnosed with skin cancer “melanoma” from a big spot/mole I never paid attention to, even though it was new, it had been growing for years & had an uneven surface. ? My fiancé Louis had been begging me to have it checked & finally made an appointment himself… after a biopsy & a second surgery last Tuesday the results unfortunately are positive. Now we are waiting to see which treatment I will be receiving but they have already removed a big area from the back of my knee & also they have removed 2 lymph nodes at the top of my leg where it had already spread. Hoping it has not spread to any more areas or organs. ?? ? I have put everything in God’s hands & I know he has all control… My sons although a bit scared know about my faith and know they have a warrior of a mommy! ? But if I can help anyone along the way based on my experience, it would be to tell you… PLEASE, never forget to take care of yourself. If you see something or feel something different in your body have it checked… I had no idea skin cancer could spread anywhere else in your body. . #Guerrera #iHaveFaith #TrustGod “God doesn’t give the hardest battles to his tougher soldier, he creates the toughest soldiers through Life’s hardest battles”. TODAY is #WorldCancerDay #RaisingAwareness

A post shared by Dayanara Torres (@dayanarapr) on Feb 4, 2019 at 3:40pm PST

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma is “the most dangerous form of skin cancer.” If diagnosed and treated early it is “almost always curable.” If not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, which can become difficult to treat and even fatal.

“My fiancé Louis had been begging me to have it checked & finally made an appointment himself… after a biopsy & a second surgery last Tuesday the results, unfortunately, are positive,” she continued. “Now we are waiting to see which treatment I will be receiving but they have already removed a big area from the back of my knee & also they have removed 2 lymph nodes at the top of my leg where it had already spread. Hoping it has not spread to any more areas or organs.”

“I have put everything in God’s hands & I know he has all control,” added Torres. “My sons although a bit scared know about my faith and know they have a warrior of a mommy!”

Torres said she was coming forward with her story in hopes of encouraging others to get themselves checked out before it’s too late.

“If I can help anyone along the way based on my experience, it would be to tell you… PLEASE, never forget to take care of yourself,” she wrote. “If you see something or feel something different in your body have it checked… I had no idea skin cancer could spread anywhere else in your body.”

Artcile originally posted on foxnews.com

Could the inflammation that drives psoriasis and other immune-linked illnesses be a major player in heart disease?

In a new study, certain psoriasis drugs appeared to help to keep arteries clear, suggesting such a link.

Read the full article here.

Did you know that to be seen by one of our dermatologists for any medical skin issue (e.g. moles, skin cancers, acne, rosacea, psoriasis etc), you simply require a referral be faxed over to our clinic from either your family doctor, pediatrician, walk-in clinic doctor, or any other medical doctor or nurse practitioner.

If your skin concern is cosmetic (e.g. Botox, fillers, lasers, peels, microdermabrasion, fat or wrinkle reduction etc), then simply call our clinic at 416-633-0001 ext. 2 to book an appointment without requiring a referral.

As we trudge our way through the winter climate waiting for the first signs of spring, we are noticing our hair is a little more brittle, our nails aren’t as pliable and our skin feels chapped, crepey or tight and rough. The heat that is forced out through vents in our cars, at home and at work are sucking the humidity out of our skin and we can see the results visibly.

So what can we do? It is imperative to keep the skin hydrated throughout the year as well as protect it with a proper sunscreen. Yes, it is true!! There is sun even in the winter. Don’t be fooled by the clouds, that sun is still plenty strong enough to create havoc on your skin. In fact, during the winter the sun is not only affecting us from above, but it can reflect upwards off the snow or ice as well.

There are several home care products that can be applied daily to combat our tight, chapped skin. I prefer medical grade quality products containing Hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is present in our skin, especially when we are young. It is a molecule that acts like a sponge and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water!! That is like the difference between a grape and a raisin! Applied 1-2 times per day either as a serum  (concentrated) prior to your moisturizer or directly in the moisturizer, it will not only make your skin feel better right away, but will help revitalize your skin in the long run by maintaining a balanced PH. Additionally, for those who can handle it, products containing a mild glycolic or AHA used a few times a week will aid in relieving dehydrated skin, allowing for a brighter, more glowing skin that will allow better penetration of the Hyaluronic acids and other hydrating products to sink in.

At Toronto Dermatology Centre, the winter is a perfect time to treat sun damaged skin, broken capillaries or any number of other laser related treatments, as the urge to be outside in the sun is decreased during the winter months. Relieving brown spots, broken red veins on the face or body and even smoothing out the skin with laser resurfacing is ideally treated during the fall/ winter and will help to brighten up your face for the spring to come.

Finally, the Bela MD+ microdermbrasion treatment, infused with Hyaluronic acid (there is that word again!!) into the skin immediately during treatment, which removes dead skin cells and infuses healthy ingredients deep in the skin, are easy, lunch hour treatments with absolutely no downtime and give an immediate lift to your spirits and overall look.

Make the most of your winter this year by approaching your skin care needs with confidence. Book your complimentary consultation with one of our medical estheticians to help you maintain great skin or to improve any concerns you may have. This is the best time to do it!!

Our very own Dr. Benjamin Barankin was recently interviewed and quoted discussing facial cleansing by the CBC.

Oil cleansing isn’t just a trend anymore — in recent years, it’s become an essential step in many skincare routines. Fans of oil cleansers say they can remove dirt and makeup while leaving skin clean and supple, as opposed to ashing your face with soap, stripping away natural oils, then applying moisturizers to offset lost hydration.

However, not everyone is sold on this new skincare regimen. Many beauty lovers are on the fence about trying oil cleansers, wondering how these products work, and how they could possibly benefit their already-oily end-of-day skin. Lathering oil on oil can’t possibly make sense … can it?

Check out the full article on cbc.ca.

Acne appeared sporadically at first when Sophia Steinberg was in the eighth grade, but within two years she said her face, chest and back were covered with embarrassing lesions of cystic acne.

“I was very self-conscious, deeply insecure and anxious,” Sophia, a Brooklyn high school student, told me. “I would wake up ashamed for my face. I felt so unattractive all the time. I had to use so much makeup and wear concealing clothing. I avoided doing presentations in front of the class. Acne kept me from feeling confident and developing my personal style.”

The teenage years are challenging times for many youngsters even under the best of circumstances. But if the face they present to the world is marred by prominent lesions of acne, the ordinary emotional and social stresses of adolescence can be that much more difficult to weather.

As Dr. Andrea L. Zaenglein, professor of dermatology and pediatrics at Penn State reported recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, “The psychological effects of acne can be profound, and persons with acne are at risk for substantial, negative effects on quality of life.”

The full article is from nytimes.com.

Credit: New York Times

Our very own Dr. Benjamin Barankin was quoted in The Huffington Post discussing the treatment and prevention of chapped lips.

If you keep getting chapped lips this could one of the reasons:

Excessively licking your already-dried out lips, as Dr. Benjamin Barankin, dermatologist and medical director of Toronto Dermatology Centre, put it, leads to “short-term gain, long-term pain.”

Barankin also noted that hot water strips away the natural oils that keep lips moisturized. To keep your lips from drying out, Nazarian recommended using lukewarm water and gentle cleansers when washing your face “to prevent your skin from drying out, especially in arid and cold weather months.” And that applies to your time in the shower, too, when hot water will come in contact with your lips.

Barankin recommended using a bland chapstick twice a day and urged not to lick or pick at your lips. If you need to put some moisture back into your lips, he also said you can put a damp cloth with warm water over the area followed by a proper lip balm to lock it all in.

To find out other suggestions, click here.

Original article by Julia Brucculieri, HuffPost US