The renowned Dr. Alysa Herman is a leader in skin cancer surgery and performs the most advanced procedures from her elegant medical office in Coral Gables. Fully dedicated to her industry, she serves on numerous academic committees of the most renowned national medical organizations.
Passionate and meticulous about her practice and highly focused on making the patient experience one of excellence, Dr. Herman also offers her patients advice on how to lead a healthy life, and today she shares her best tips on skin cancer prevention with our Hola Latinos Magazine readers.
-As a specialist in dermatologic surgery with a focus on skin cancer removal, what are your best tips on ways to prevent it?
Dr. Herman: My three main tips for preventing skin cancer begin with incorporating a multifaceted approach to a healthy lifestyle.
Tip #1: Maintain a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants. Antioxidants are well known for their role in protecting the skin from free radicals produced by the sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
Tip #2: Be selective with the soaps, makeup, creams and other topical cosmetics you apply to your skin. The chemicals used in these products can be absorbed by the body and be potentially toxic to our health.
Tip #3: Develop a sunscreen habit every day. Living here in South Florida, we are exposed to the sun year-round. We know that most skin cancers are caused by cumulative sun exposure, so daily sunscreen use is essential.
-Is skin cancer on the rise? Doctor, are you diagnosing more young people these days?
Dr.: Yes, I do see skin cancer increasing. More and more, I see patients in their 20s and 30s; before, it was rare to see anyone under 40 with the disease. This observation further emphasizes the need for daily sun protection and an awareness of the environmental exposures we (and our skin) come into contact with.
-On the subject of sun protection, which kind really offers adequate protection?
Dr.: Both chemical and mineral sunscreens offer adequate protection against UV radiation. Since there has recently been considerable debate about the absorption of chemical sunscreens through the skin, I recommend my patients choose mineral sunscreens. Zinc oxide and titanium oxide are both minerals. They are not absorbed; they sit on top of the skin, and both are approved by the FDA as safe and effective.
-With almost two decades of practice, you are fellowship-trained in Mohs surgery. Explain to us what this procedure is and why it is unique.
Mohs surgery is a specialized procedure used to treat skin cancer. It is unique in that we can surgically remove a patient’s skin cancer, using local anesthesia, and examine it under the microscope while the patient waits.
Dr.: We continue the surgery in stages until all abnormal cells have been removed and the margins are tumor-free. Despite having been developed in the 1930s, this technique remains the safest and most precise way to remove most types of skin cancer. It also offers the highest cure rates compared with all other treatments currently available for skin cancer.
-Tell us about your holistic approach.
Dr.: Our overall health is significantly influenced by several factors, including: what we eat, what we are exposed to, how much we exercise and how much time we take to rest and recharge before starting again. Offering myself as an experiment, I share with patients the changes I have made and the objective results I have achieved. The simple changes include:
1) eating a more plant-based diet and fewer processed foods;
2) exercising regularly and sweating (important for the cardiovascular system, great for the skin and helps eliminate toxins from the body);
3) exploring meditation and reading about how slowing down activates your body’s parasympathetic system, which is where the body regenerates and heals;
4) checking your vitamin D level, since many of us are low and normal levels are essential for maintaining a healthy immune system.
-What is your secret to maintaining a successful practice for so many years?
Dr.: Before building my medical office, my goal was to improve the patient experience. The comfort of the exam tables, the wide selection of books and magazines, and the creation of a private coffee bar were some of the things I focused on to create a more welcoming environment. Our approach has always been to be available when patients need us. After work hours, every surgery patient receives my cell phone number and can reach me directly with any questions or concerns.
-What is next on your agenda for the future?
I am seriously considering writing a book, something I never thought I would want to do. Now I see it as a challenge and a way to consolidate everything I have learned about health and disease prevention from a holistic and integrative perspective. A new field is emerging in Western medicine called precision medicine. I hope conventional medicine implements more knowledge and principles from traditional Chinese medicine, the macrobiotic way of life, meditation and qigong. We have all been forced to slow down and reevaluate our lives during this pandemic.
With such an intense focus on health, I envision that the next level of health will not be simply wellness, but having optimal health.
You have been blessed with a beautiful daughter whom you call your treasure. Tell us how she has changed your life.
“My two-year-old daughter is my absolute treasure. Life is definitely magical and wonderful when seen through her eyes.”
When I hold her and she puts her little hands on my cheeks, smiles and says “mommy,” I tell myself, this is the most beautiful thing life has given me.
Dr. Alysa Herman’s medical office is located at 135 San Lorenzo Avenue, Suite 700, Coral Gables; 305-444-4979; dralysaherman.com
Contact Us