What You Need to Know About the Rise in Skin Cancer
Old misconceptions, new dangers
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that sunbeds are a 'safer' way to get a 'base tan'. This is not the case whatsoever," says Banwell. "We know that skin cancer is caused by exposure to the Solar Constant — i.e. the combination of ultraviolet radiation (UV-A and UV-B), infrared (IR) and visible light from the sun. Intense exposure via sunbed use also dramatically increases the risk of skin cancer formation (between 30–70%), and thus avoidance of sunbeds is mandatory."
Another common myth? That sunscreen isn't necessary in winter or cloudy weather. "You should be wearing sunscreen throughout the year," Banwell insists. And age isn't a get-out clause. "Skin cancer can affect those at any age," he adds. "Repeated sun exposure without protection can really increase your risk."
How often should you check your skin?
"I think the golden rule," says Khan, "is that anything that is present for two months or more, whether it's just a reddish lesion which doesn't heal, or whether it's a pigmented lesion which is undergoing any change, these are the things that people need to be aware of.' For those with a personal or family history, vigilance is essential. "We need to have our moles checked or check ourselves at least once a month," Khan says.
"Dermatologist visits can be every three to six months, and we can use mole mapping to establish whether lesions are changing," Khan adds. Genetic mutations like CDKN2A may also require screening, he notes, adding that "Once one has had a family history or a melanoma oneself, this is no longer about just prevention. It is a medical necessity."
What's new in detection and treatment?
Artificial intelligence is already transforming early diagnosis. "It has evaluated many thousands of lesions and can now detect melanoma and other cancers with almost the same accuracy as a dermatologist," says Khan. Tools like MoleScope and Reflectance Confocal Microscopy (RCM) allow virtual biopsies and high-resolution skin imaging. "This is a real breakthrough," he adds.
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Vogue Arabia
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7 Sunscreen Mistakes Dermatologists Say You Should Avoid
The importance of wearing sunscreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer and signs of ageing is well known. But hand on heart: do you really do it every day, 365 days a year - come rain or shine - as recommended by dermatologists? "In everyday practice and from my community, I hear time and again that many people shy away from it despite being aware of it. Out of fear of spots. Or simply because they don't like the sticky, greasy feeling that many sun creams leave behind," says dermatologist Dr. Emi Arpa, who runs her own practice in Berlin and a skincare brand under her own name. But even the very best sun protection is useless if you don't apply it correctly. That's why Arpa reveals 7 mistakes below that you would never make and how to do it better. Sunscreen mistake no. 1: Not using sunscreen every day No matter what the weather is like, and regardless of whether you're indoors or outdoors, sunscreen should be applied every single morning. "The biggest mistake I really see people make all the time is not using SPF daily. Many people think that if it's cloudy and they're in the car or office, they don't need sunscreen. However, up to 80 percent of long-wave UVA rays penetrate clouds and window glass," says the dermatologist and continues: "We do a lot of laser treatments in our practice, after which you really have to be meticulous about sun protection. I see time and time again that patients who have had a CO2 laser and sit in the car a lot end up with pigmentation spots on one side, despite the explanatory talks. Namely on the left. So on the side facing the windshield." Sunscreen mistake no. 2: Using too little sun cream "The amount really makes the difference," says Dr. Arpa. "Most people just use way, way, way too little sunscreen. I always have the Gwyneth Paltrow video in my head... I would always advise sticking to the two-finger rule (putting a strip of sunscreen on the length of your index and middle finger) for the face. If you include the neck and décolleté, even three fingers," says Dr. Emi Arpa. Sunscreen mistake no. 3: Not reapplying If you apply SPF 30 or SPF 50 properly, i.e. the recommended amount, you still have sufficient protection in an office environment at lunchtime - in theory. However, according to Dr. Emi Arpa, it should be borne in mind that sunscreen can also rub off through sweat and friction. "For example, if you keep putting your sunglasses on and off. Or because you touch your face a lot," she explains and continues: "On warm days and when the UV index is high, I therefore also reapply cream every few hours in my day-to-day practice, which is comparable to many people's everyday office life, in order to maintain protection. Of course, it's even more important to reapply regularly if you spend a lot of time outdoors." Of course, make-up can suffer under the second or third layer. Dr. Emi Arpa therefore recommends patting in the SPF instead of rubbing it in. "However, you can't completely prevent it from wearing off. If in doubt, you simply have to reapply a little make-up or use an SPF spray or SPF powder, for example, to readjust." Sun cream mistake no. 4: Relying on day cream or make-up with SPF "In order to really get the protection shown on a product, it is crucial to use a sufficient amount," explains Dr. Emi Arpa and reminds us of the two-finger rule. So here's the question for you: do you use two finger-lengths of foundation or day cream on your face? If not, and this is probably the case, the SPF in the product will not give you the protection you need. "What's more, make-up or day cream usually only have a sun protection factor of 15," says Dr. Emi Arpa. She therefore recommends separating skin care and skin protection. "I would always advise applying the skincare first, then the SPF and then the make-up." Sun cream mistake no. 5: Forgetting the most important areas According to Dr. Emi Arpa, it's all about the details when applying sunscreen. These are the ears, the areas of skin above the eyebrows, the bridge of the nose, the lips, cheekbones, décolleté and the back of the hands. "These are the so-called sun terraces, which are prone to the sun and where I, as a dermatologist, often cut out skin cancer," says Dr. Emi Arpa. And this is particularly complicated in these susceptible areas: "Especially in the case of black skin cancer, a safety margin of 0.5 to 1 centimeter must be maintained, which is a difficult undertaking on delicate structures such as the auricle." Dr. Emi Arpa therefore recommends applying sunscreen particularly thoroughly to the sun terraces and concentrating on them when reapplying sunscreen. Sun cream mistake no. 6: Not protecting your lips from the sun According to the dermatologist, the lower lip is also one of the sun terraces mentioned above, as it is exposed to the sun. "In addition, the skin on the lips plays a special role as the border zone between the mucous membrane and normal skin. Here we have hardly any calluses, no sweat and sebaceous glands - and therefore much less self-protection. According to Dr. Arpa, lips therefore not only quickly develop skin cancer, which is also difficult to remove here - remember the safety distance - but also wrinkles quickly. And: "Cold sores are also often triggered by UV exposure and inadequate sun protection," says Dr. Emi Arpa. The dermatologist therefore recommends using lip care with integrated sun protection 365 days a year. Sunscreen mistake no. 7: Not washing off the SPF thoroughly in the evening As important as it is to use sunscreen, it is also crucial to wash the SPF off the skin thoroughly in the evening. "I have many patients whose skin gets worse in summer. In dermatology, this is known as Majorca acne," says the dermatologist, explaining how sun cream spots develop: "Heat increases blood circulation, including that of the sebaceous glands and therefore sebum production. In addition, you naturally sweat more - sunscreen then quickly has an occlusive effect, like a film layer." It is therefore important for anyone who is prone to sunscreen spots to use a lighter fluid instead of a greasy cream and to thoroughly wash off the SPF - whether greasy or liquid-light - in the evening with a shower gel and cleanser for the face. According to the dermatologist, the latter is also recommended for areas such as the back and décolleté, where sebaceous gland activity is particularly active. Article originally published on Vogue Germany
Vogue Arabia
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Is Hair & Scalp SPF Actually a Thing?
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Vogue Arabia
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