By Alexander Germanis
It has often been said: It’s what’s inside that matters. While this adage certainly applies to one’s character, it also tends to be used to refer to our health. When we visit our primary care physicians for a checkup, give real thought to what we’re eating, and get our cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked, our concerns almost always turn inward.
But what about the part of us that protects all of those internal things? What about what’s on the outside? What thought do we give to the largest organ of the human body: the skin?
When it comes to the skin, dermatologists like those at the Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers (DSCC) in Bloomington, Peru, and Pontiac are there to help keep your largest organ healthy so it can maintain its function as the guardian of the body.
Incredible Diversity
In regard to skin, when people hear the word “diversity,” the immediate thought is about pigmentation. While human skin tone can pretty thoroughly cover the color spectrum, diversity when it comes to treating the skin means something else entirely.
This is something both Dr. Adrienne Schupbach and Dr. Douglas Leone learned in medical school at the University of Illinois. At first, neither of them had chosen dermatology as a specialty, but years into their schooling that all changed.
“We were both drawn to dermatology due the diversity of what you do each day as a dermatologist, along with how visual the field is,” Dr. Schupbach explains. “As a dermatologist, you not only see what is happening on the skin surface, but we are also trained in dermatopathology. This gives us the opportunity to examine skin biopsies microscopically and correlate with what we are seeing on the patient’s skin in-clinic.”
The doctors are also highly trained in other aspects of medicine – facets such as cutaneous surgery, managing systemic diseases with high-risk medications, diagnosing internal diseases based on skin findings, and, of course, cosmetics.
“We aren’t aware of any other specialty with that level of diversity,” says Dr. Leone. “Furthermore, we manage patients of all ages, from newborns to 100-plus-year-olds. That allows us to care for multiple generations of family members, which is very special.”
Others at the practice likewise recognized the lure of dermatology after years in their respective careers. For their partner, Dr. JoAnne LaRow, DO, her “penchant for dermatology” came while working as a pediatrician. Pursuing a dermatology residency and Mohs certification, she and her family relocated to Illinois in 2018.
Physician Assistant Hannah worked for years in urgent care and pain management. “I applied to dermatology positions all over the U.S., as it is very competitive to land a derm position as a PA,” Hannah reveals. “Dr. Leone and Dr. Schupbach interviewed me, we clicked immediately, and the rest is history. I am so happy to have found such amazing and supportive supervising physicians!”
Homegrown and Independent
Since the interstate boom in the middle of the last century, it became less and less common for people to stay where they were born. For Drs. Schupbach and Leone, however, they have felt a loyalty to Central Illinois akin to the American hometown loyalty of old.
This loyalty was immediately apparent to Dr. LaRow when she first joined the practice. “I had not met either Dr. Schupbach or Leone in person until after I agreed to work for them locum tenens. I was, however, initially impressed with their dedication to their families and to their patients,” she recalls.
After filling in for Drs. Schupbach and Leone, Dr. LaRow wanted to remain a permanent part of the team. “It is a privilege to work with them,” she says, “as they are a talented, caring, and honest couple.”
Even after their undergraduate and medical schooling at U of I, the care Drs. Leone and Schupbach had for their home area overrode any desire to seek a life elsewhere. “We love being able to care for our friends, our former teachers, our family’s coworkers, etc.” says Dr. Schupbach. “Being able to treat and help out those in your home communities is such a wonderful gift. It’s also definitely more fun to take care of people and chat with patients that you know.”
Another unfortunate casualty of the good old days is the private medical practice. However, like their desire to stay in their home area, this is another tradition neither doctor wishes to see go by the wayside.
“Private practices are unfortunately becoming more and more rare. With increased costs, a more and more complicated environment of rules and regulations, and continual cuts in reimbursements, it has become harder and harder for small practices to survive,” laments Dr. Leone. “Being in private practice allows us to determine and provide the very highest level of care to our patients. Furthermore, the patients know where the buck stops if you will. If there is any significant issue, they know Dr. Schupbach or I can contact them personally and try to rectify the situation.”
Mohs Surgery
Because of the scope of training and experience the doctors have, Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center is able to provide a full spectrum of dermatology care. This includes treating a variety of conditions, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea, allergic reactions, and more.
The special interest at the DSCC, however, is revealed in the name of the practice. Skilled in skin cancer detection and treatment, the doctors are both board-certified in Mohs Micrographic Surgery.
First developed by Dr. Frederic Mohs, Professor of Surgery at the University of Wisconsin in the 1930s, Mohs Micrographic Surgery, or simply Mohs surgery, removes certain skin cancer while sparing as much healthy skin around the cancer as possible. “It is the gold standard of care to treat basal and squamous cell carcinomas in cosmetically sensitive areas such as the head and neck, the hands and feet, and shins,” says Dr. Schupbach. “It is also used on other parts of the body if the cancers are larger or are more aggressive subtypes of basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma.”
The technique begins with the patient receiving a local anesthetic before the first cut is made. That first cut is then taken narrowly around the apparent border of the cancer on the surface of the skin. Dr. Schupbach explains further: “That tissue is then frozen and processed right there in the office into microscope slides where 100 percent of the border around and beneath the cancer is checked. This is very unique to Mohs surgery, as no other type of excision examines 100 percent of the margins. In fact, most surgical excisions only examine one to 10 percent of the surgical margin.”
Should there be cancer cells present in the margin tissue, another cut is taken and checked. This process continues until the margin is clear of cancer cells and the wound is then stitched closed.
Besides sparing more healthy tissue than traditional skin cancer surgery, Mohs surgery has a higher cure rate at 95 to 99 percent, resulting in a smaller scar. Collectively, Drs. Leone and Schupbach have performed more than 40,000 of these surgeries.
Layers of Advice
When it comes to being healthy, the majority of effort needs to go into prevention. With skincare, the key word is “layers.” Protecting your skin with protective clothing is the first step, but any exposed skin needs a layer of sunscreen to protect it from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Sunscreen coverage should begin with one with a rating of no less than SPF 30. The best sunscreens are mineral blockers, containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, and should be reapplied every one to two hours.
“I think people are becoming much more aware of the harmful effects of UV exposure, and better understanding this damage results in many future problems including skin cancer and premature aging of the skin,” Dr. Schupbach says. “Skin cancer is by far the most common cancer and skin cancer screenings are relatively inexpensive, easy, and quick. Most skin cancers are very easily treated if caught early.”
Protecting the skin and getting an annual skin check are the best things you can do for your skin and both actions could save your life.
Help Everyone Needs
Be it a bank, air base, or shopping mall, the larger the structure the more help is needed to keep that structure safe and secure. The largest structure of our bodies is no exception to this. No one has more than one set of eyes, and with the average adult having approximately 22 square feet of skin, it is likewise in need of help in order to remain safe and secure.
The doctors at Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center are more than just another pair of eyes. Highly trained in multiple facets of human health, they can look for, diagnose, and treat a variety of problems, returning you to health as soon as possible.
Whether you need a simple check-up, have been noticing a strange change to something on your skin, or simply want some peace of mind regarding the health of the guardian organ of your body, seek out the help everyone needs.
Dermatology and Skin Cancer Center is located at 3302 Gerig Drive, Suite 100 in Bloomington, Illinois. We also have offices in Peru at 2011 Rock Street, Suite C; and Pontiac at 1508 West Reynolds. If you would like to schedule a check-up for your skin or have other dermatological concerns, please call us at (309) 533-7070, or visit us on the web at www.dermatologistskincancercenter.com.
