The Melanoma Research Foundation 2020 Excellence in Prevention Award

The Melanoma Research Foundation is honored to award this year's Excellence in Prevention Award at the 2020 Denver Virtual Gala to Dr. Robert Dellavalle of Denver VA Medical Center.  Dr. Dellavalle leads a prominent research laboratory focused on skin disease prevention and evidence-based dermatology that was the first to summarize global indoor UV tanning age restriction laws, measure compliance with tanning age restrictions, and to call for a tax on UV tanning.  He is an amazing melanoma awareness advocate and MRF supporter.  Please enjoy this "Meet the Honoree" session with Dr. Dellavalle to learn more about him, his active research in melanoma prevention and care and the Denver Virtual Gala!

Spray Sunscreen Podcast

The podcast Dermosphere recently reviewed the article "Spray sunscreen: characterizing application area density and implications for sun protection," co-authored by three of our faculty members: Drs. Robert Dellavalle,  Cory Dunnick, and Jeremy Hugh​.  The article was recently published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology​. 

$3.8M Defense Grant Awarded to Develop Stem Cell Therapies for EB, Wound Care​

“We are very excited to receive such a strong endorsement from the US Department of Defense,” said Ganna Bilousova, an associate professor of dermatology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and member of the consortium.  “It is extremely difficult to advance any type of novel therapies into the clinic without the benefit of compelling government interest and support.”​

Buddy Check9: Skin cancer​

On Buddy Check9 Day, Neil Box and Robert Dellavalle, both from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, talk about skin cancer.

Box: “The other thing that people don’t realize is that sunburns and excessive sun damage actually age your skin, making you look a lot older at a younger age.”   
Dellavalle: “One of the things that we’re excited about is a camera that can show hidden UV damage.”​

How to Avoid the Most Common Sunscreen Mistakes 

You might have noticed some comically high-SPF sunscreens lining drugstore shelves.  According to Theresa Pacheco of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, “SPF 15 is good. SPF 30 is better.” Anything higher, she says, doesn’t make much of a difference.  An SPF 15 sunscreen will block about 93 percent of UVB rays, compared to 97 percent for SPF 30 and 98 percent for SPF 50.

Bar Soaps May be Better than Body Washes for Contact Dermatitis Patients​

Chronic contact dermatitis often is tied to hidden allergens found in shampoos, soaps, and body washes, according to Cory Dunnick, MD. PDF