insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014 | Page 90

HEALTH+WELLNESS ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE MISS NORA NUGENT CONSULTANT PLASTIC SURGEON Stay Safe in the Sun! As we come into the summer months, most of us are looking forward to and hoping for some summer sunshine. After the very wet winter we have just had, it will be very welcome. However, Consultant Plastic Surgeon Nora Nugent warns that we should not forget to take care of our skin. Exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun can cause short-term sunburns and even on cloudy days the sun can still damage your skin. As well as the pain when it occurs, sunburn can also cause long-term damage to skin. Damage from the sun can lead to skin cancers in later years. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. These cancers develop from different layers of cells within the skin and most frequently occur on the body parts that are exposed to the sun most such as the face and hands. The effects of sun exposure are cumulative on skin over your lifetime so it is important to be sun-aware no matter what age you are. A less common but more deadly type of skin cancer is melanoma. Sustaining sunburn has been associated with an increased risk of developing melanoma. The number of people diagnosed with melanoma in the UK is on the increase and so too is the number of young adults being diagnosed with melanoma. This is possibly as a result of an increased ability to take sun holidays compared to times past but sun damage to your skin can still occur with the sun levels that we get here in the UK. If you work outdoors or enjoy outdoor recreational activities e.g. golfing, gardening or sailing, it is particularly important that you protect your skin as it is exposed regularly for long periods of time. A few simple steps can help protect your skin against the effects of the sun. The sun is at its hottest in the middle of the day so limiting exposure between 11am and 3pm avoids the most potent exposure to ultraviolet rays. Wearing a hat or long-sleeved protective clothing when out in the sun and using natural shade such as that provided by trees protects your skin from excessive sun exposure. Finally using a sunscreen of at least factor 15 but preferably factor 30 or higher also helps shield your skin and prevent sun damage. Sunscreens need to be reapplied regularly especially when in and out of water. Young children need to have their skin protected from the harsh effects of the sun. The skin of a child is thinner and more delicate than that of an adult and needs more protection. It will burn more quickly than adult skin in the sun. Children also tend to spend more time outdoors; in fact a considerable portion of your lifetime sun exposure has already occurred by the time you reach 18. It is important to apply sunscreen to children before they go outside and to reapply regularly particularly if they are playing in water. Childhood sunburns increase the risk of some skin cancers in later life such as melanoma. Getting young children to wear a hat to provide some shade for them also helps. Sun shades on the rear side windows of your car will help to shade children from the sun during car journeys as windows do not provide full protection against the ultraviolet rays of the sun. If you notice any changes in your skin such as new areas of pigmentation or ulcers that will not heal, you should get them checked by your doctor. Changes in existing moles such as an increase in size, a change in colour or shape, new onset of bleeding or itching also need to be checked out and treated if necessary. Early skin cancers can be treated more easily and effectively and early treatment can help avoid more extensive treatment at a later stage. Another effect of prolonged sun exposure is more pronounced and premature ageing of the skin. Fine lines and wrinkles develop more quickly and extensively in sun damaged skin and uneven texture and pigmentation of the skin can occur as well. While modern facial rejuvenation techniques can treat and improve the appearance 90 of your skin, it is far better for your skin not to sustain the damage in the first instance. So enjoy the summer and our lovely outdoors but please be sun-aware and look after your skin. Miss Nugent consults weekly at Nuffield Health Tunbridge Wells Hospital. For more information or to arrange a complimentary 15 minute confidential meeting with Miss Nugent please call 01892 552932 or email [email protected] ‘Get the Nuffield Treatment’ www.nuffieldhealth.com/ tunbridgewells