SKCIN & SPF
SKCIN
(www.skcin.org) Raising awareness through Education, Promoting Prevention & Early Detection.
MASCED pro training, I cannot advise this and promote this enough. At Ohh! I get to see my patients on a regular basis, and I have the bonus of seeing you when you are FEELING HEALTHY maybe not really concerned about anything that would cause you to go to the doc. Prevention is better than cure always however Early Detection is key!
MASCED = Melanoma and Skin Cancer Early Detection.
MASCED.UK is a national accreditation programme for health professionals and hair, beauty industry professionals to promote the prevention and early detection of skin cancer, improve diagnosis and save lives.
MySkinDoctor App
Concerned about a skin condition, lesion, or mole? Get a diagnosis, information about your condition and an effective treatment plan from the UK’s largest dermatology practice, within 3 days!
This service provided via the app does have a fee, at Ohh! if you are concerned let me look for free at any other appointment booked, my skin cancer and oral cancer screening is and always will be a free service alongside a booked skin or smiles treatment appointment, you can choose to book a standalone skin check but there is a fee to cover our basic costs (I don’t diagnose, I am trained in Early Detection not diagnosis however I can refer you on or provide you with a letter for your GP if we feel it is necessary).
If in doubt, please get it checked out it will take a moment of my time at your appointment and I will see thousands of innocent cases of something if it leads to one success story in beating this horrible cancer.
SKIN CANCER –
Almost all skin cancers are caused by an over exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun and/or sunbeds. All skin types can be damaged by exposure to UVR. Damage is permanent, irreversible and increases with each exposure.
Now I am not here to lecture.
I am a pale blue Scottish person who loves a suntan. I love, love, love lying in the sun (ideally on a beach with a good book and a fabulous cocktail). I have also experienced my fair share of extreme sunburn (some through accident and others through stupidity).
I lived in Germany for 3 years, back in 2000 – 2003, and there were coin operated sunbed shops no one in attendance, not only did I spend those 3 years at outdoor pools, beer gardens, beer festivals and in the great outdoors camping, I also topped up and made sure I had a full body tan by frequenting these coin operated sunbeds on a weekly basis.
Caribbean holidays, photos of me with an absolutely belter of a tan (and looking toned and skinny right coz tan does that). Now that I am rapidly exiting my 40’s at an alarming rate! I noticed a couple of years ago that my tan was a bit uneven, more freckly, than it had ever been before (add to that - I have a very good mate – she knows who she is BFF’s since we were 4 years old, resembles Patsy Kensit/Belinda Carlisle, and who looks 10 years younger than her age due to her obsession with SPF and choosing Fake Tan options). With age comes wisdom! & with lockdown came my new obsession with Skin Science and alongside that a newfound appreciation for SPF and MASCED!
SPF is Your BFF!
Can you name one skincare product that keeps your face looking healthy, wrinkle free and youthful for years to come? If you are not all shouting SPF at the screen, where have you been? Not on my blogs evidently!
The most important product is SPF (apart from in my ‘Saintly Smiles’ section of the Ohh! Trilogy then its fluoride!).
Whilst we may consider an SPF in the summer you probably do not wear it all year round and this can really make a difference. It should be every single day come rain or shine.
UV rays, that are the cause of sun damage and skin cancer, are always present whatever the weather they are not blocked by clouds on days that are overcast (only visible rays from the sun are blocked but this does not include UVB rays) that’s why SPF is your skins best friend day in day out, SPF is your BFF!
At Ohh! we love Clinicare dermo corrective cream with an SPF of 50 and not only is it tinted but as it is dermo corrective its working away hard on the skin all day! We also have a non-tinted version. These are fabulous for your daily use on the face, neck and decolletage (basically from the nipples up –as I read on a fellow Skin nerds page & thought was a better explanation).
Which SPF?
Mineral (physical) SPF & Chemical SPF both shield your skin from the harmful effects of the suns UV rays but in different ways. Chemical sunscreens act almost like a sponge, absorbing UV light, while physical sunscreens act more like a shield, deflecting the sun’s rays.
Mineral (or physical) sunscreens contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, small particles that sit on the skins surface and physically prevent UV rays from penetrating the skin, they can feel sticky going on and can be layered with other skin care products.
Chemical sunscreens allow UV light into the skin. Once the light is absorbed into the skin the chemicals in the sunscreen create a chemical reaction in which UV light is converted to heat, and the heat dissipates from the skin.
Pros and Cons
Pros of chemical, quick, and easy to apply and unlike mineral sunscreens do not leave a white film on the skin, they statistically perform better in consumer tests of how long they protect the skin from UVR.
Cons of chemical, may cause skin reactions in some, allergic reactions can occur in those with sensitive skin and they can worsen rosacea and melasma. Melasma is a common skin condition that results in brown patches on the face forearms and neck while rosacea results in red patches and small pimples on the cheeks, nose, and forehead.
Pros of mineral, much safer for people concerned about long term exposure to chemicals, ideal for children, people with sensitive skin and those with melasma. The heat dissipation of chemical sunscreens can exacerbate melasma. They offer immediate protection unlike chemical sunscreens which can take up to 20-30 minutes to absorb into the skin. Mineral sunscreens can be applied on top of makeup and other skin care products.
Cons of mineral, they are thick and sit on top of the skin therefore may contribute to breakouts in people prone to acne, there are combination sunscreens that contain anti-acne additives like Niacinamide (see skin science blog for more info). Harder to apply and can tend to leave a white film on the skin and need to be applied more frequently than chemical sunscreens.
To sum it up
Mineral is best but something is better than nothing. Mineral has been likened to a healthy home cooked meal and chemical to fast food. Mineral typically take longer to apply and need applied more frequently but they may be safer for long term use. Broad spectrum is recommended, these protect you from both UVA & UVB.
At Ohh! we can discuss what is best for your skin. Drop us a message or arrange a skin consultation in clinic. Do something today that your future self will thank you for, let us help you ensure that you stay fabulous!
