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Introducing Dr. Amin Esfahani

Amin Esfahani was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up in Toronto, Canada. He completed both undergraduate and graduate studies at the University of Toronto with focus on the role of nutrition in lowering risk factors of diabetes and heart disease. He attended New York Medical College (NYMC) and completed his internship at the prestigious Harvard Medical School affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed his dermatology residency at McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University. In his final year he served as the Chief Resident. His interests outside of clinical medicine include leadership and mentoring. Amin previously served as the president of student government at NYMC and as member of ACGME’s Review Committee for dermatology.

Amin Esfahani, MD

Skin deep

Part One of Three-Part Series

Over the past few decades the focus of medicine has shifted towards promoting preventative care. A large emphasis is placed on annual visits with our primary care providers and we are often reminded to keep up with cancer screening practices such as mammograms, PAP smears and colonoscopies. However, despite these positive steps, skin, which is our largest organ is often neglected. Many are surprised to learn that cancer of the skin is the most common type of cancer in the United States.

However, the term “skin cancer” on its own is not very helpful. There are multiple types of skin cancer. The three most common are basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma of the skin respectively. The aforementioned types of skin cancer along with the other rarer ones differ significantly from one another.They have distinct pathophysiology, prognosis and depending on the stage at which they are diagnosed, different treatment options. Despite these differences however, they are unfortunately all too common. In fact, basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are so common that it is estimated that the lifetime risk to develop one is greater than 20%; meaning that one in five people at some point in their lifetime will be diagnosed with one of these non-melanoma skin cancers.

Fortunately, majority of skin cancers are easily treatable when caught early. This includes melanoma which is the cancer of your moles. However, early detection of these cancers can be very challenging and often requires the eyes of an expert. Especially because cancers of the skin can appear as subtle findings that sometimes mimic a patch of eczema, a pimple that hangs around, or even an ingrown hair that does not heal. They can also occur in parts of the body that are not easily visible, such as the back of the legs, middle of the back or even behind the ears or scalp. For that reason, it is important to keep a close eye on any spots on your body that appear as odd/different or ones that appear to be changing in size, color or texture. At the same time, it is highly recommended that you have a full body skin check with a board-certified dermatologist at least once a year.

Most of us regularly check our cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure and keep up with the recommended age-appropriate cancer screenings. It is time to add your skin to that list. Cancer of the skin is common and can occur at any age, in all ethnicities and all colors of the skin. Luckily, the majority are easily treatable when caught early.

Please be on the lookout in future issues for the warning signs of skin cancer and factors that increase your risk.

Senior Living Facility

Prestige Assisted Living at Manteca

Senior Retirement Community The Commons at Union Ranch

Urgent Care Kaiser Permanente

Weight Loss/ Diet Center

Spreckels Park BMX Track Bike Racing

Weight Loss/ Surgery Center Doctors Hospital of Manteca

Yoga Studio

Yoga by Michele

Annual Well-Woman Exam, A yearly exam for on-going good health and to discuss any gynecologic problems. You should have a clinical breast and pelvic exam yearly even if you do not require a PAP smear.

Prenatal Care, As soon as you suspect you are pregnant schedule an appointment to ensure the health of you and your baby. It is important to take a prenatal vitamin with folic acid daily while you are able to conceive to prevent birth defects regardless of your birth control method.

Annual Teen Exam, It is recommended that adolescent girls have their first visit with an OB/GYN between the ages of 13 and 15 to meet and build trust with the doctor before a physical exam is required.

Genetic Testing, Fill out our family history form to discuss with the doctor and determine your genetic risk for certain cancers or conditions.

Incontinence Treatment, Apex is a non-surgical, guaranteed, incontinence treatment with a 93% improvement rate.