Scientists from Berkeley Lab, the University of Bradford, and Boston University discover a crucial connection in skin formation

Skin is the body’s armor, protecting us from disease agents, injury, excessive water loss, and cold and heat. Yet mutations in a single gene, the gene for the protein p63, cause numerous diseases and malformations of the uppermost layer of skin – the epidermis – and other tissues. In the epidermis, these range from skin cancers to dysplasias that cause cracking, bleeding, infection, and discoloration.

A research team from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and spearheaded by colleagues from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom, including members from Boston University, has learned that p63 acts by directly regulating another protein, Satb1, which is a “genome organizer” – it controls gene expression in progenitor cells by temporarily remodeling chromatin, the structure that makes up the chromosomes and contains tightly wound DNA.

Updated evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of melanoma

Based on an extensive review of scientific literature and the recommendations of recognized melanoma experts, the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) has released updated evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer.

Published online in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the Academy’s new guidelines of care for primary cutaneous melanoma focus on biopsy techniques, pathology, surgical treatment, (including sentinel the use of lymph node biopsy), and long-term follow-up care.

“Melanoma is a serious public health issue, as the number of cases has been increasing at an alarming rate — especially among younger people,” said dermatologist Ronald L. Moy, MD, FAAD, president of the Academy. “There are many factors that must be considered when diagnosing and treating melanoma, and these new guidelines offer physicians clinically sound recommendations on how to treat melanoma patients and potentially increase their chance of survival from this deadly disease.”

You're So Vain: New Survey Shows Teens Use Tanning Beds to Look Good Despite Knowing Health Risks

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. (May 16, 2011) – For many teens and young adults, living in the moment is all about having fun, looking good and not worrying about what tomorrow brings. But for young people who use tanning beds in their quest for that popular bronze look, this unhealthy behavior can result in an increased risk of skin cancer and premature aging, such as wrinkles. A new survey by the American Academy of Dermatology (Academy) found that Caucasian teen girls and young women who tan indoors do so for the sake of vanity despite knowing the health risks.

A vast majority (86 percent) of respondents who tan indoors knew that using tanning beds can cause skin cancer – yet they still reported using an indoor tanning bed in the last year. When asked if they think people look more attractive with a tan, a large percentage of respondents (66 percent) answered yes, especially indoor tanners (87 percent).