SUN AWARENESS WEEK MAY 9TH – 16TH

The sun is essential to our health and well being , Vitamin D is essential for Healthy bones and we get most of ours from Sunlight exposure. We need Vitamin D to help our body absorb calcium and phosphorus from our diet, oily fish, as well as meat and eggs.

The best time to make Vitamin D from sunlight is from March to October between 11am – 3pm. You need to be in the sun daily for short periods of 10 -15 minutes with your forearms, hands or lower legs uncovered and WITHOUT sunscreen. Exposing yourself for longer may cause a risk of burning and skin damage.

Sunburn is a clear sign that your skin cells have been damaged, the skin does not have to be raw, peeling and blistering, just going pink or red is sun damage.
In 2009 the World Health Organisation classifies the whole Ultraviolet Spectrum and the use of SOLARIUMS as carcinogenic to humans.

The sun emits 3 different types of UV radiation – UVA, UVB and UVC rays. Whilst UVC rays are filtered by the ozone layer, 10% of UVB and 85% UVA reach the earths surface.
UV rays cause DNA damage in the skin cells and failure of the cells to repair this damage can prompt cells to mutate, leading to the development of Skin Cancer.
You do not have to burn to cause damage to the skin cells.

3 MAJOR TYPES OF SKIN CANCER

Melanoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)
All identified by the cell type of the skin from where they develop.

MELANOMA – is the most dangerous and aggressive for of skin cancer, they grow quickly and can spread. These account for 3% of all skin cancers.It appears as a new or existing spot, freckle, or mole that changes in colour , shape or size.
SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA ( SCC) caused mainly by UV radiation by sun exposure or solariums – they make up 28% of skin cancers.
BASAL CELL CARCINOMA (BCC) are very slow growing and rarely lead to anything more sinister if regular check ups are made after removal. They make up to 68% of skin cancers and most of us will know someone who has had a BCC removed.

HYPERPIGMENTATION
Hyperpigmentation is overexposure to the sun and is darkening of the skin by overproduction of melanin. It is harmless.

Known as Hyperpigmentation, lentigo spots, solar lentigenes, sun spots, age spots, liver spots, freckles.

Melasma is known as a pregnancy mask due to hormonal changes.

All these can be treated with a medical Face Peel and lightening creams which we sell and treat at Cotswold Fcae Aesthetics Clinic.