Kate Messana, DO, FAOCD, FAAD, affectionately known as Dr. Kate, is co-owner of Elevated Dermatology and Skin Cancer Surgery Center in Parker. Parker City Lifestyle caught up with her to chat about summertime skin care—how to avoid sun damage, how to help repair it, when to get skin check-ups and which products help promote sun safety.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU OFFER CLIENTS TO HELP THEM AVOID SKIN DAMAGE WHILE IN THE COLORADO SUNSHINE?
I recommend an SPF of 30 or higher, applied to all exposed areas, with reapplication every two hours if you are actively out in the sun. Tolerability and [the] feel of the sunscreen are more important than active ingredients; if you don't like it, you won't put it on. Any sunscreen is better than none. Be extra careful if your shadow is shorter than you, as this means the sun is [at] its strongest. I also recommend UPF [ultraviolet protection factor] clothing that protects you from the sun because it’s easy to use and you don’t have to worry about reapplication.
WHAT TREATMENTS DO YOU OFFER CLIENTS WITH PREVIOUS SKIN DAMAGE?
I recommend an appointment for a full-body skin exam to screen for skin cancers or to discuss sun damage concerns on any part of the body. I also offer cosmetic consultations to discuss the wide variety of aesthetic treatments we offer to improve the health of your skin.
WHAT SKIN DAMAGE/SYMPTOMS SHOULD COMPEL A PERSON TO SEE A DERMATOLOGIST?
Any lesion or lesions [that are] growing, changing color, bleeding, painful or [are] tender for more than a few weeks should be evaluated. It’s also a good idea to watch for textural changes like scaly spots or patches that look dry. I also see many people for aesthetic concerns like worsening wrinkles, skin laxity, dullness, dryness or excessive spots. These are all directly related to sun exposure and damage from the UV radiation from the sun.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD A PERSON COME IN FOR A SKIN SCAN? DOES THIS TIMEFRAME CHANGE WITH AGE?
The older you get, the higher the risk you have for developing a skin cancer, so I recommend an exam every 2–5 years as a youth/adolescent, and this interval decreases with age. By the age of 30, I recommend a skin exam yearly. Those with a history of multiple skin cancers may come even as often as every 3–6 months. Skin cancer, especially melanoma, is a skin cancer that can affect someone at any age. If someone has a changing mole, it should be evaluated no matter the age.
WHAT SKIN CARE PRODUCTS DO YOU RECOMMEND FOR SUMMERTIME?
I recommend vitamin C, vitamin A and many other products that can be used safely in the summer—along with a broad-spectrum sunscreen. I customize each person's skin care regimen based on several different factors, including age, sun exposure, goals and skin type.
”Tolerability and [the] feel of the sunscreen are more important than active ingredients; if you don't like it, you won't put it on. Any sunscreen is better than none.”
