I know that the “Wear SPF daily!” requests from myself and other skincare and healthcare professionals can seem a little repetitive, but please believe me when I say that they come from a well-meaning place. As I try to highlight regularly, skin damage caused by overexposure to UVA and UVB rays can speed up the visible symptoms of ageing, from pigmentation to fine lines and wrinkles. A good quality SPF, worn every day, can help to delay the need for a patient to undergo a non-surgical aesthetic treatment to tackle this issue.
However, it’s not just lines and wrinkles that I'm concerned about. Overexposure to UV light is the main cause of non-melanoma skin cancer, a condition that presents in over 100,000 new patients in the UK every year[1]. It is also the key contributing factor in melanoma – the fifth most common cancer in the UK – which has over 13,500 new cases every year.[2]
It’s easy to think that these problems won’t affect you, but that’s just not the case. Last year, I noticed a lesion on the scalp of one of our patients and referred her straight to her Dermatologist for further investigation. She subsequently shared her experience in a review, highlighting that these issues really can affect anyone:
“On my last visit Clare noticed a lesion on my scalp and suggested that I got a further opinion, for which I was very grateful. It was cancerous and successfully removed by a skin specialist cancer surgeon. Thankfully, today all went well.”
S.A – review from December 2017.
With abnormal growths on the head, back or in other hard-to-reach areas, it’s easy to not notice changes that would trigger concern. It’s also easy to think that changes to moles, etc. are a natural process and nothing to be worried about. This is why I strongly recommend that patients keep an eye on their skin - and on the skin of their loved ones. If you notice anything unusual at all – be it irregular borders, a lack of symmetry in a mole, large growths or uneven colour, or have a sore that won’t heal or is uncomfortable, please visit your GP, or recommend that your loved one does. For more information about what to look out for, visit the NHS website today: https://www.nhs.uk/be-clear-on-cancer/symptoms/skin-cancer#BSasQwd5BQbQIL5q.97
So PLEASE – check your moles regularly, and take care in the sun. Wear a really good quality SPF and top it up regularly, particularly if you have been in the swimming pool or sea or have been sweating (even if it's waterproof!!). It’s also so important to wear a sun hat and sunglasses, and ideally cover your skin with long-sleeved, lightweight and breathable clothing. Seek shade when the sun is at it’s strongest (between 11 am and 3 pm), and remember to stay hydrated when the weather is hot.
Your skin looks after you, so why not look after your skin?!
