WeeklySA_AdminALERT: A dermatologist gives five tips to help one to able to do their own self-check at home for signs of the disease…
By WSAM Correspondent
Last year, 69-year-old Isabel Lievano’s dermatologist diagnosed the persistent black spot under her nail as melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Though she lost her nail, she was thrilled that her dermatologist was able to save her finger and her life. Today, Isabel is a strong advocate for skin self-exams.
“Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. Anyone can get skin cancer, which is why Isabel’s story shows how important it is to perform a skin self-exam,” says dermatologist Hope Mitchell. “Checking your skin can help catch skin cancer early when it’s highly treatable. I encourage my patients to regularly check their skin for anything that is new or changing.”
Performing a skin self-exam means taking note of all the spots you see on your body such as moles, freckles, and age spots. Skin cancer can develop anywhere on your skin (including the palms of your hands, soles of your feet, mouth, eyes, genitalia, and buttocks, and is one of the only cancers you can usually see on your body. If you have darker skin, skin cancer is more likely to develop in areas that aren’t exposed to the sun, such as under or around your nails, palms, or soles.
During a skin self-exam, Mitchell says you should check your skin and nails for the ABCDEs of melanoma:
A – stands for ASYMMETRY. One half of the spot is unlike the other half.
B – stands for BORDER. The spot has an irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.
C – stands for COLOUR. The spot has varying colours from one area to the next, such as shades of tan, brown or black, or areas of white, red, or blue.
D – stands for DIAMETER. While melanomas are usually greater than 6 mm, or about the size of a pencil eraser, when diagnosed, they can be smaller.
E – stands for EVOLVING. The spot looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.
You should also check your skin for signs of basal cell carcinoma (BCC), the most common type of skin cancer, and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a type of skin cancer that grows slowly and deeply. According to Mitchell, BCC can appear as a dome-shaped growth, a shiny, pinkish area, a black or brown growth, a white or yellow waxy growth, or a sore that heals then returns. SCC may appear on your skin as a crusted or rough bump, a red, rough flat area, a dome-shaped bump that grows and bleeds, or a sore that either does not heal or heals and returns.
Once you know the warning signs for skin cancer, Mitchell recommends following these tips to check your skin:
- Examine your body front and back in a full-length mirror, then look at the right and left sides with your arms raised.
- Bend your elbows and look carefully at your forearms, underarms, fingernails, and palms of your hands.
- Look at the backs of your legs and feet, the spaces between your toes, your toenails, and the soles of your feet.
- Examine the back of your neck and scalp with a hand mirror. Part your hair for a closer look at your scalp.
- Check your back and buttocks with a hand mirror.
“Make sure to record the spots on your skin and nails, including the location of the spot and whether it has changed,” says Mitchell. “Ask someone for help when checking your skin, especially in hard-to-see places like the scalp and back.
If you notice a spot on your skin that is different from the others or that changes, itches, or bleeds, make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.”
ALLERGY-FREE EGGS ON THE CARDS?
REACTION: Scientists genetically alter hens to produce allergy-free eggs to make them safe consumption for people with egg allergies…
By Jessica Norris
A recent study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology explored the possibility of altering the genetics of hens to remove ovomucoid from eggs. The researchers found the method they used produced eggs that may be safe for specific uses among people with egg allergies.
People with egg allergies can experience a variety of reactions, including vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Severe egg allergies may even trigger life threatening anaphylactic reactions.
Egg allergies could be stressful for anyone — and some children may worry about being different from their peers. In some cases, children may grow out of egg allergies as they age.
A general practitioner not linked to the research, Dr. Blen Tesfu, a medical advisor at Welzo, explained to MNT: “Egg allergies are relatively common, particularly in children. They are most often caused by an allergic reaction to proteins found in egg whites, such as ovalbumin or ovomucoid. The impact of egg allergies can extend beyond dietary restrictions.”
Researchers of the current study sought to help people with egg allergies. They hypothesised that by removing the protein that causes the allergic reaction, one could create an allergy-free egg. These eggs could, therefore, be safer for people with egg allergies to consume.
The particular protein they were studying was ovomucoid, which is responsible for many egg allergies. Researchers investigated how genetically edited hens could produce ovomucoid-free eggs.
In conducting their study, the researchers removed the ovomucoid gene in two chicken strains, and tested the produced eggs for safety.
Researchers found that the eggs from genetically altered hens did not have ovomucoid or mutations of ovomucoid. Their findings indicate the safety of these eggs as a creation that removes major allergy concerns.
Study author Ryo Ezaki, assistant professor at the Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life at Hiroshima University, Japan, explained in a news release:
“These results indicate the importance of safety evaluation and reveal that the eggs laid by this OVM [ovomucoid] knockout chicken solve the allergy problem in food and vaccines. The next phase of research will be to evaluate the physical properties and processing suitability of OVM [ovomucoid] knockout eggs and to confirm their efficacy through clinical trials.”
Tesfu noted what the new research could mean for people with egg allergies: “For individuals with severe egg allergies, even trace amounts of egg in food or vaccines can trigger severe allergic reactions.
With the development of OVM-knockout chickens, these individuals may be able to consume eggs and egg-derived products without fear of an allergic reaction. Moreover, since eggs are used in the production of certain vaccines (such as some types of flu vaccines), this development could potentially make these vaccines safer for people with egg allergies.”
Meanwhile, it is unlikely that consumers will find allergy-free egg-containing products on grocery store shelves yet. Experts may need to do further testing in this area to ensure safety. – Report sourced from MNT
