Inova opens new Melanoma & Skin Cancer Center

Skin Care Experts

Inova Fairfax Hospital has opened the Inova Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center, the region’s only multispecialty skin cancer program.

“Inova is a great place for my team and I to offer our specific training in the diagnosis and treatment of all types of skin cancer,” says Suraj Venna, MD, a board-certified dermatologist who specializes in skin cancer and is Director of the new center. Also staffing the center will be Jennifer DeSimone, MD, and Sekwon Jang, MD. All three have specific expertise in skin cancer, including advanced non-melanoma skin cancers, Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) and cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL).

“My colleagues and I are particularly excited to establish our research here with Inova Translational Medicine Institute,” says Dr. Venna. The center plans to conduct genomic research on melanoma, he adds.

The program, which will be housed at 8505 Arlington Blvd., Suite 100, will provide screening, detection and treatment of melanoma, a kind of skin cancer, in its early and advanced stages. The team also plans to establish a high-risk cancer screening clinic for organ transplant recipients. Among the programming at the center will be a weekly skin cancer screening clinic called Mole Monday.

Get Some Skin in the Game

Learn more about the new Melanoma and Skin Cancer Center at www.inova.org/skin. Call the office to make an appointment at 703.970.6430.

Beating Winter Burns – How to practice sun safety in the wintertime

While sunburn may not be the first thing on your mind in the winter months, it can be just as much of a problem this season as in the summer. In fact, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, areas of high elevation, such as ski slopes, can increase UV radiation that causes sunburn by as much as 35 percent to 45 percent.

With this in mind, it’s important to apply sunscreen to any areas of your skin that are exposed to the sun in the winter. The snow and strong winds can also affect sunscreen application, wearing it away and limiting its effectiveness. As a result, it’s important to reapply sunscreen every two hours.

Winter sun can also be dangerous to the eyes when it reflects off white snow. Snow blindness, or photokeratitis, is the result of damage to the cornea due to lengthy exposure to reflected light. Although the blindness might last only a day or two, the condition is painful. To avoid it, wear polarized sunglasses that block between 95 percent and 100 percent of UV rays.