OTB Skin Care and I have been making new friends on the World Wide Web and we invite you to catch us in some new places!

1. Please visit  SeniorWomen.com where  my guest article on Dermatologist’s Tips for Dry, Flaky Skin on the Scalp was featured.  I describe seborrheic dermatitis (aka dandruff) and give simple recommendations for over the counter treatments that you can  use to control this common problem
2. My guest blog post on 5 Tips To Control Exercise Acne was featured on DietsInReview.com.  Here I explain exercise acne and recommend treatments including OTB SKIN Back Acne Kit and Noble Zinc Soap among other remedies for this very stubborn form of acne that affects the face, neck, back and chest.
3. I was quoted on MagicSenses.com on the benefits of natural vegetable glycerin soaps for the care of dry, sensitive skin.
4. My guest article Dermatologist’s Advice For Your Chapped Hands was featured on Ezinearticles.com.
5. The OTB UV Ray Detecto Ring was featured as one of the 9 Hot Beauty Gadgets on SheKnows.com.  Our little UV sensing key ring beads caught their editor’s eye as a great tool for learning when age-causing UV sun rays threaten to damage your skin.

I found this spot on someone who came into my office for something else.…  He saved his life by letting me do a full skin exam.

He didn’t really want a full skin exam or think it was necessary.  He made the appointment because of some spots on his face that were bothering him and his family.  He’d had a lot of sun exposure over the years and I think his primary physician may have also said that at he should see a dermatologist.  My rule of thumb is that I STRONGLY encourage every fair skinned person over 40 who has lived in the sun belt to have a full skin exam.  Many patients decline.  This gentleman didn’t and his decision saved his life.

This melanoma was on his thigh.  In spite of having a large diameter, the melanoma was not invading into the deeper layers of his skin.  We removed it and he should be fine.  Statistically, it’s unlikely to come back….. Full skin exams save lives.

Yesterday I removed another early melanoma that I found on the back of a different patient.  This woman came in especially for a full skin exam because she had a family member who had had a melanoma.  My patient had questions about some of her moles but couldn’t see the subtle little mole on her back that caught my attention.  It was small and light brown, but didn’t match her other moles.  She wisely agreed to have me remove it for testing, which showed an early melanoma.  Like the gentleman above, we caught it early and statistically she should be fine.  Because this mole was on her back, she would not have been able to notice it until it had grown quite large, and thus more invasive.  This patient saved her life by requesting a full skin exam.

The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone have their doctor examine their skin every year.  People at higher risk for skin cancer should seek out a physician who’s really good at skin cancer detection like a dermatologist or a primary care physician who is good at doing skin exams.  It doesn’t matter what your ethnicity is or how dark your skin is naturally.  Every skin type can get skin cancer.

In addition, everyone should do self skin exams on a monthly basis.  The Skin Cancer Foundation has guidelines for self skin exams.

People are often shy and decline full skin exams, even in the dermatologist’s office.  Don’t be.  Do your monthly skin exams.  Have an annual exam.  Ask your doctor about your level of risk for skin cancer.  Get a plan to catch skin cancer early.

Need motivation? Read the Skin Cancer’s Statistics on skin cancer-their compelling!

See our full Aesthetician Services Menu to pick your service!

My out of town patients often ask me for recommendations on things to do when they’re in Sebastopol.  High on the list-Sebastopol is a great place to shop! Our stores are unique, partly because everyone who lives in or visits Western Sonoma County drives through Sebastopol at some point and shops here.  I shop almost entirely in Sebastopol myself and know most of our stores well.

Our main shopping area is North Main Street on the one block section of Highway 116 between McKinley Street and Bodega Highway.   North Main Street is packed with great stores and the highest concentration of my favorite Sebastopol retailers are here:

In this post I’ll give a summary of the stores I frequently shop at on the west side of North Main Street:

My Favorite Stores On The West Side Of North Main Street In Sebastopol CA

Artisana

Artisana is always the first place that comes to my mind when I want to give a special gift.  Tej Greenhill, the owner, and an artist herself, has a fantastic eye for selecting lovely hand crafted jewelry, home accessories, leather goods, textiles and other functional items. I’m tempted by everything in this wonderful store and have bought a number of items for myself here as well as many gifts over the years.

Located at 146 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone (707) 829-3036

Web Site www.artisanafunctionalart.com

Copperfield’s Used and Rare Books

An absolutely incredible selection of beautiful ‘coffee table’ books, art monographs, big glossy picture books for cooks and gardeners etc. Copperfield’s is very selective about the used books they purchase making their shelves  a real treasure trove.  I found my favorite, beautifully illustrated Mediterranean cook book here one day when I was just browsing.  When I started taking painting classes I went straight to Copperfield’s Used Books to buy inspirational art monographs of my favorite artists. Much of my garden design inspiration came from books I bought here as well.

Located at 176 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone (707) 829-0429

Web Site www.copperfieldsbooks.com

Cultivate

Our new housewares store with an irresistible collection of table linens, cookware, tableware etc. This store is dangerous retail for me as an insatiable foodie.  I’m always eager to try the next healthy cooking trend and of course outfit myself with the proper cookware for the job.  I’m REALLY happy to see Cultivate in town.   I did quite a bit of my 2009 Christmas shopping here and I can’t wait to see what they’ll bring in for spring.

Located in the Basso Building at 186 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone (707) 824-1400

Incredible Records

Jonathon Lipsin, the owner of this one of a kind music store has been in the music business his entire life (as was his father).  He’s  a great resource for me when I’m looking for a particular type of CD, but don’t know enough to even begin my search.

His store is also a trip down memory lane because it’s filled with  rare rock memorabilia that many of us baby boomers grew up with.  I love to browse his posters collection because I had some of those posters in the 60’s and 70’s.

Located at 112 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA Phone (707) 824-8099

Rosemary’s Garden

Anyone interested in making their own natural personal care products needs to know about this store. You can get expert advice on making or using natural care products from the experienced staff here.  They also carry wide selection of ready made botanical products including essential oils, tinctures, body care products, teas, candles and culinary herbs. Rosemary’s Garden also carries a number of good books on making natural care products.  The store smells heavenly and it’s worth a trip in for that.

Located at 132 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone (707) 829-2539

Sumbody

Beautifully made natural, organic skin care that  perfectly complement my professional skin care products. Deborah Burnes, the founder of Sumbody, has extraordinary expertise in formulating natural ingredients into practical, luxurious and effective skin care products.  My aestheticians use some of her products for their facials and skin care treatments.  My aestheticians also sell several of Deborah’s eye creams and face creams to their clients as well.  Doborah’s products are popular with the Hollywood celebrity world-proving that you can never underestimate the uniqueness of little Sebastopol!

Located at 118 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA 95472 Phone (707) 823-2053

Web Site www.sumbody.com

Sebastopol Gallery

Our local gallery featuring some of our many local artists.  I’ve taken workshops with oil painter Sterling Hoffmann whose work is featured in the gallery.  Also, my husband had jewelry artist Anita Selinger make me a lovely necklace and earrings for our 25th wedding anniversary.

Located at 150 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA Phone (707) 829-7200

Web Site www.sebastopol-gallery.com

Copperfield’s Books

In addition to Copperfield’s Used and Rare Books, North Main Street has Copperfield’s Books for new books.  This is a lovely, local bookstore with knowledgeable friendly staff.  I order my new book purchases from Copperfield’s.  They get me my books just as fast as if I ordered from Amazon and I’m ‘going local’.

Located at 138 North Main Street, Sebastopol, CA  95472 Phone (707) 823-2618

Web Site www.copperfieldsbooks.com

These are the stores that I find myself patronizing the most on the west side of Sebastopol’s North Main Street.  There are a number of other lovely stores that I also visit from time to time including a wonderful organic bedding store and another gift store  in the Basso Building.  Also in the Basso Building is a new old fashion candy store.  The block also has a nice little bead store, an art supply store and an import clothing store.  There are also several places to eat on the same side of the street.

You can spend a lot of quality time strolling this one block on the west side of North Main Street in Sebastopol!

Next post in the series-The East Side of North Main Street in Sebastopol.  There are two real retail treasures that you can’t miss if your in town.

If you liked this post, you may want to read:

Visit Florence Avenue for a Walk, Delightful Art and a Great Meal-Very Sebastopol!