Skinema, dermatology in the media blog

Mike Tyson's facial tattoos

Mike Tyson's notorious tatts	Matched by Bana in "Star Trek"	Bana in "Chopper": Typecast?

In the doc "Tyson," audiences spend 90 minutes hearing the inner-most thoughts of ex-boxer/convict Mike Tyson. Viewers have long had a chance to judge Tyson's exterior, especially since he got a Maori-style facial tattoo. Facial tattooing is rare outside of the culture of the indigenous people of New Zealand. Except in movies.

In the prequel "Star Trek," Aussie actor Eric Bana also has facial tatts as the Romulan heavy Nero. Bana is no stranger to playing baddies with body art. In "Chopper" (2000), a barely recognizable Bana portrayed a true life convict covered in tatts.

American Idol finalist Megan Corkrey

In Hollywood, tattoos are still (in 2009!) used to identify evil characters. Perhaps that is why facial tattooing continues to carry a social stigma. While even wholesome "American Idol" contestants like Megan Corkrey proudly display extensive body art, no one in the final twelve has even a tiny facial tatt. For those who regret having their features marked, lasers can gradually erase and clear tatoos--even in dark skinned celebs like Tyson. Or there is always the casting call for the next "Star Trek" flick...

Skinema: Actors from Down Under with Tattoos All Over

Sarah Jessica Parker's Chin Mole: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Actress, producer and fashion icon Sara Jessica Parker wins the "Missing Hollywood Landmark" award for the chin mole she recently had removed. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Mickey Rourke plastic surgery: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Out of nowhere, Mickey Rourke steps up to win the "Least Likely Leading Man" award for his brave work in "The Wrestler." See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Barack Obama and John McCain: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Barack Obama and John McCain won the "Most Skinematic Presidential Race" for the skin issues that arose during their campaigns. Sarah Palin and Joseph Biden are included at no extra charge. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Tina Fey's Scar: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Tina Fey caps a big year by winning the award for "Celeb Skin Secret Revealed." We give the skinny why Fey has a large scar on her cheek. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Robert Pattinson and Kristin Stewart of "Twilight": The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! The cast of the film "Twilight" scored an award for "Sunscreened Teens," narrowly beating Miley Cyrus. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Brad Pitt's Skin: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! Brad Pitt is welcomed to dias again, this time for the "Rarest skin condition to inspire a Hollywood blockbuster." See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Amy Winehouse Skin Infection: The 2009 Skinnies Awards

This year's Skinnies Awards are now online at skinema.com! The controversial Brit singer Amy Winehouse is recognized as part of the "Skin-Enemy" award: The Staph bacteria that likely caused her facial skin infection. See all of the awards at skinema.com...

Sarah Palin's tanning bed: Just Say No

Sarah the Governor: Hockey mom or Indoor tanner?

The 2008 US Presidential campaign had plenty of notable news items, many of them generated by perky Alaskan Gov. turned VP candidate Sarah Palin. Yet among the moose hunting, child rearing, and trooper gating anecdotes, one bit of trivia went relatively unnoticed. It was revealed that last year, Palin had a tanning bed installed in the Alaska Governor's mansion. Supposedly it was bought used and paid for by the Palin's. But unlike Sarah the Governor's wardrobe shopping spree, the cost of the unit and installation is not what worries us. While some use tanning beds attempting to limit the depressive symptoms caused by a sun-free Alaskan winter, is it really worth the risk to the skin?

Upon the news of Palin's UV exposure, the Indoor Tanning Association excitedly released a press release claiming that indoor tanning increases vitamin D for people not exposed to solar radiation. This is controversial. Just this week, the Texas Attorney General sued a tanning parlor franchise for deceptive advertising claiming tanning beds had health benefits. And this is in a Red State!

Before Palin attempts to brown her skin or end up with a red burn (possible in supposedly "safe" devices), we'd suggest she look into the data showing increased melanoma skin cancer rates in women using tanning beds. Perhaps a chat with former running mate John McCain, who has had four potentially life threatening skin cancers, would steer her straight. We recommend dietary sources of vitamin D like fortified milk, soy drinks, fish and egg yolks. And as for tanning, we suggest Sarah keep the "pale" in Palin: Just Say No!

Sources:

Palin installed tanning bed

Texas sues tanning franchise

Melanoma risk from indoor tanning

Is Obama Experienced?

44th President Barack Obama with stars, stripes...		...and facial spots called DPN's.

During the campaign for the 2008 US Presidential race, some voiced concerns about the level of experience shown by Senator Barack Obama. Did he have the maturity to handle the role of Commander in Chief? At skinema.com, we don't pretend to be politically savvy. But in dermatology, we know age like the back of our hand (D'Oh! Is that a sun spot?)

Note the small dark bumps on Obama's cheeks. These lesions are known as DPN's, short for dermatosis papulosa nigra. These non-cancerous lesions are not due to diet, healthy or otherwise. The sun, even the intense solar radiation that Obama was exposed to growing up in Hawaii, is not the culprit either. Seen more often in people of color, these discrete dots are a marker for maturity, age, or to put it nicely...experience.

Can skin doctors remove these spots, enact this change? Yes, we can. Treatment requires lightly zapping the lesions with a low strength cauterizing device. Lasers can also be used to transform a transformative politician. We presume Obama has other items on his to-do list.

So from a skin perspective, we can confirm: Obama has experience to spare.

Condoleezza Rice has got 'em too!