Yearly Archive: 2015
Can pills protect against skin caner
January 14, 2019 at 6:31 pm
It has been reported that pills are being sold on line with the claim that they are sunscreen pills and can protect against skin cancer. These are being sold on sites that sell vitamins. However it’s important to realise that an “oral sunscreen” does not exist and sites suggesting that pills will protect against […]
Vitamin D confusion
November 22, 2018 at 9:06 pm
There has always been confusion about vitamin D. There is no consensus about what constitutes normal blood levels and the information about the need for supplements varies. Despite this, large sums of money are spent carrying out blood tests for vitamin D levels, and buying vitamin D supplements. Recent studies have shown that Vitamin D […]
Skin cancer Myths
May 2, 2018 at 5:25 pm
A recent article has highlighted 15 skin cancer myths. It is worth mentioning a couple of these myths. One is that people who tan easily are safe from skin cancer. This is not true and people who tam easily still need to protect themselves and are at risk of melanoma. Another is that […]
Acne update
November 9, 2017 at 4:25 pm
New advice for treating acne Acne is very common particularly among teenagers and young adults. However it can affect any age group. It is important that acne is treated effectively and early to reduce the risk of scarring. The mainstay of treatment has included topical and oral antibiotics and these preparations are […]
Safe sun
October 31, 2017 at 3:38 pm
New evidence on safe sun exposure There is a large amount of confusing information in the media about the benefits and dangers of sun exposure. Too much direct sunlight can certainly increase your chances of developing skin cancer. However there is also evidence that exposure to sunlight is good for you while […]
Melanoma risk in “sun, sea, and sangria” generation
July 18, 2016 at 10:41 pm
Melanoma risk in the “sun, sea and sangria” generation Over the last 20 years the total number of melanoma skin cancers in the over 55s has trebled according to Cancer Research UK. This is equivalent to the incidence being 2.5 times higher in the over 55s compared with 1.6 times higher in younger […]
Mole count estimates risk of melanoma
November 7, 2015 at 4:14 pm
More than 11 moles on arm the left arm signifies an increased risk of melanoma Among the best recognised risk factors for melanoma is the total number of moles on a person’s skin. Individuals with more than 50 moles, and more so those with more than 100 moles,/ have an increased incidence of melanoma. […]
sunburn art
August 30, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Sunburn art and skin cancer Sunburn art has emerged as a new trend this summer. The art is created by putting sunblock on specific areas of skin before going out in the sun, producing a design on the skin when the unprotected parts are burned in the sun. The down side to […]
Link between citrus fruit and skin cancer
July 19, 2015 at 4:44 pm
Drinking citrus fruit can increase the risk of skin cancer Do you enjoy a fresh orange juice or grapefruit juice for breakfast? If so it could be increasing your risk of skin cancer, and in particular, melanoma. A large study has been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology looking at the link […]
The link between coffee and melanoma
February 23, 2015 at 6:43 pm
Can coffee reduce your risk of developing melanoma? As a dedicated coffee drinker I was interested to see a study from the US that seemed to show a reduced incidence of melanoma among those who drink coffee (J Natl Cancer Inst, 2015, 1-9). This was a large study of almost 500,000 people. It looked at […]
Could the sun be good for your health?
December 11, 2014 at 10:09 pm
Could the sun be good for your health? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if sunbathing was good for your health with no risk attached? Some people seem to be suggesting exactly that. The evidence for this has mainly come from Scandinavian cohort studies. For instance, a large study carried out in Sweden looked at […]
Vitamin D supplements
November 12, 2014 at 9:32 pm
One of the major supermarkets has offered to give a free 30-day supply of vitamin D until the end of the year. So what is the truth about vitamin D and should we all be taking these supplements? Vitamin D occurs naturally and is contained in certain foods such as oily fish. It is also […]
Is the sun good for your health?
October 16, 2014 at 11:36 am
At this time of year people are looking forward to their summer holiday in the sun. Everyone likes to escape the British summer to soak up some sun and relax on the beaches of the Mediterranean. There has been a lot of publicity about the harmful effects of the sun on the skin. There is […]
How to protect your skin on holiday
October 16, 2014 at 11:08 am
At this time of year with the summer approaching, everyone is getting ready to reward themselves with a holiday in the sun. As soon as the sun appears people take maximum advantage of it because who knows how long it will last? These images, for instance, are from Glasgow in the last two weeks. There […]
Smoking and Melanoma risk
April 1, 2019 at 7:06 pm
There are many good reasons to give up smoking including the possibility of lung cancer and cardiovascular disease. However there is now a dermatology study showing a link between smoking and reduced survival in patients with skin cancer, specifically melanoma. The study that was carried out in Leeds, showed that survival from melanoma […]