Latest news with #RossPerry
Daily Mirror
01-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
‘I have a crippling health issue that's only fixed by Botox'
When Suzi Brown from Manchester started experiencing excruciating pain around puberty she knew something wasn't right, but never expected to suffer for decades later Headaches can be debilitating, whether they are linked to allergies, hormones, caffeine or hypertension. Perhaps the hardest to cope with are migraines, which cause mild to severe pain, typically affecting one side of the head. They can also impact your vision and make you feel incredibly sick. Doctor Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics ( says, 'Migraines area unique kind of headache, often characterised by pain on one side of the head, nausea, and visual disturbances such as flashing lights or temporary tunnel vision. You may also experience an aura,a sensation indicating that a migraine is about to occur. 'The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but they're thought to be triggered by spasms of blood vessels in the brain or neck area. Factors like stress, alcohol and dehydration can exacerbate them, but sometimes they can happen for no apparent reason.' Doctor Perry explains that preventive treatments are the main approach to managing migraines, with medications available to help prevent their onset. Migraines may start when young girls get their first period, but they can begin at any time. They can persist throughout the reproductive years and into menopause. Doctor Ross adds, 'Sadly, there's not much you can do as it's often down to genetics. However, certain measures can help manage the onset and severity, such as staying hydrated and drinking plenty of fluids.' Drinking water and engaging in regular exercise can also help alleviate migraines triggered by hormones. It's recommended to manage stress levels through breathing exercises or yoga.' As June marks Migraine & Headache Awareness Month, we spoke to web developer Suzi Brown, 46, from Manchester, who suffered for years before finding the perfect and unexpected cure. 'I started suffering from migraines around puberty. I remember telling my mum my head felt really heavy when I was about nine years old. For me, they feel like a vice is crushing my head, and I feel sick and dizzy at the same time. I get brain fog and memory loss, both during and after. 'The worst thing is not being able to plan – they happen without warning. I missed a festival last year because I had to leave early. Alcohol makes them worse, too. I've even had to miss family holidays abroad. 'I missed tons of work before I was self-employed, and people made comments that I was lying because it's not a disability that can be seen – although you can see when I have one, as my face and eyes are really puffy. 'It's much easier now I'm self-employed. In fact, it's one of the reasons I work for myself. If I do have to take time off, I can make up the hours, and I'm in control of my workload. 'If I catch migraines early, they can last a few hours. I take meds during the night if I feel one coming, and they're usually gone by morning. If I don't, they can last a few days or even a week. 'To manage them, I now get Botox which takes away about 80% of the migraines. I don't know how it works, but I'm thankful it does. I get some Botox on the NHS, so although it's meant to be every three to six months, it's nearer to every year due to waiting lists. So I top this up privately when I can. "The doctor has added the sides of the head and, last time, the forehead. The latter hasn't worked,but it did wonders for my wrinkles!'
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sunbeds are this year's most dangerous wellness trend, but can they ever have benefits?
A high street staple in the 90s and noughties, tanning shops have waned in popularity in recent years, thanks to rising awareness around their widely-reported ability to raise your risk of skin cancer. But according to recent stats from Melanoma Focus, the artificial tanning devices appear to be increasing in popularity with Gen Z, with 43% of 18 to 25-year-olds admitting to using sunbeds in a survey. One possible explanation for their resurgence? A TikTok trend that's seen the UV light-loaded beds rebranded as a 'healthy' part of everyday wellness routines, with some tanning shops using the platform to market dubious claims about their benefits. Some videos on the platform state that using sun beds regularly can increase your intake of vitamin D, support immunity, help you to regulate a healthy sleep wake cycle and naturally increase mood-boosting endorphins. But is there any truth to these statements? We asked a dermatologist to weigh in on the matter, explaining if sunbeds can ever spell good news for your health. Given that sunlight helps our bodies manufacture the majority of our vitamin D, it sounds plausible to suggest that tanning beds, which mimic the suns rays, could give us a mood-boosting dose of the sunshine vitamin. However, this theory appears to be largely a myth. A 2019 overview of the claims, published by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, concluded that while the UV light from sun beds can temporarily increase vitamin D levels in the blood, this boost is typically short-lived. The researchers say that the reason is because there's a marked difference between the UV you soak up on holiday and the rays you get from a tanning bed. Sunlight emits UVB radiation, a type of invisible ray that interacts with a protein called 7-DHC in the skin, converting it into vitamin D3. Sunbeds, meanwhile, contain concentrated UVA radiation, which does not effectively trigger vitamin D synthesis. "Getting enough vitamin D from tanning beds just isn't possible," stresses Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics. "Tanning beds use bulbs that emit mostly UVA light, while your body needs UVB light to produce vitamin D. "To safely get enough vitamin D, simple exposure of 15 mins to arms and legs during the warmer months and a diet naturally rich in Vitamin D is all that is needed," he adds. The NHS also recommend everyone should consider taking a daily supplement vitamin D during the autumn and winter months. If you're someone who tosses and turns until the early hours, the idea that a short session on a sunbed could 'reset' your body clock sounds appealing. Some TikTok videos claim that controlled UV exposure from sunbeds can help regulate melatonin levels, which are crucial for sleep-wake cycles. But while one 2015 study found that participants with SAD tended to naturally increase the frequency of their indoor tanning during the winter, there's currently no scientific evidence to suggest that sun beds can regulate melatonin production in a similar way to natural daylight. "Despite claims that sunbeds might offer a 'safer' tanning method, they do not provide a safer alternative to natural sun exposure," says Dr Unnati Desai, national lead of GP Services at Nuffield Health. "In fact, the high intensity of UVA radiation makes them more dangerous than traditional sun exposure. "Safe vitamin D synthesis occurs from normal daytime sunlight exposure, and vitamin D supplements or fortified foods are a safer option when necessary." Ultimately, science tells us that there is no safe way to use sunbeds. Studies have found that the device's high intensity UV radiation can damage the DNA in your skin cells, leading to premature ageing and skin cancer, including melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. Scientists reckon even one sunbed session can increase your risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 67% and basal cell skin cancer by 29%. People who start using sunbeds before the age of 35 also have a 75% increased risk of malignant melanoma. "To be clear, there is no safe sunbeds use, and a deep tan is never 'healthy'," says Dr Sasha Dhoat, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Clinics. "Melanoma rates, the most dangerous and potentially fatal type of skin cancer are on the rise in the UK and it is thought around 100 deaths per year are linked with sunbed use." If you like having a golden glow during the warmer months, cosmetic dermatologist Laura Geige says that applying a fake tan is a far safer way to achieve a bronzed look. "I find the rise in sunbed use deeply concerning, especially under the guise of 'wellness'," she notes."We know that sunbeds are a direct carcinogen, classified by the World Health Organisation at the same risk level as tobacco and asbestos. So the idea that they offer meaningful benefits is not only misleading but also a dangerous distortion of science. "In reality, I believe sunbeds offer accelerated skin aging, DNA mutations, and a significantly heightened risk of melanoma. Even a few sessions can cause irreversible genetic damage to skin cells." Read more about tanning: 'I've battled skin cancer for 15 years after using sunbeds as a teenager' (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) I loved suntanning, until I got skin cancer (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) Should sun beds be banned? Doing so could prevent deadliest form of skin cancer (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Sunbeds are this year's most dangerous wellness trend, but can they ever have benefits?
A high street staple in the 90s and noughties, tanning shops have waned in popularity in recent years, thanks to rising awareness around their widely-reported ability to raise your risk of skin cancer. But according to recent stats from Melanoma Focus, the artificial tanning devices appear to be increasing in popularity with Gen Z, with 43% of 18 to 25-year-olds admitting to using sunbeds in a survey. One possible explanation for their resurgence? A TikTok trend that's seen the UV light-loaded beds rebranded as a 'healthy' part of everyday wellness routines, with some tanning shops using the platform to market dubious claims about their benefits. Some videos on the platform state that using sun beds regularly can increase your intake of vitamin D, support immunity, help you to regulate a healthy sleep wake cycle and naturally increase mood-boosting endorphins. But is there any truth to these statements? We asked a dermatologist to weigh in on the matter, explaining if sunbeds can ever spell good news for your health. Given that sunlight helps our bodies manufacture the majority of our vitamin D, it sounds plausible to suggest that tanning beds, which mimic the suns rays, could give us a mood-boosting dose of the sunshine vitamin. However, this theory appears to be largely a myth. A 2019 overview of the claims, published by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, concluded that while the UV light from sun beds can temporarily increase vitamin D levels in the blood, this boost is typically short-lived. The researchers say that the reason is because there's a marked difference between the UV you soak up on holiday and the rays you get from a tanning bed. Sunlight emits UVB radiation, a type of invisible ray that interacts with a protein called 7-DHC in the skin, converting it into vitamin D3. Sunbeds, meanwhile, contain concentrated UVA radiation, which does not effectively trigger vitamin D synthesis. "Getting enough vitamin D from tanning beds just isn't possible," stresses Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics Skin Clinics. "Tanning beds use bulbs that emit mostly UVA light, while your body needs UVB light to produce vitamin D. "To safely get enough vitamin D, simple exposure of 15 mins to arms and legs during the warmer months and a diet naturally rich in Vitamin D is all that is needed," he adds. The NHS also recommend everyone should consider taking a daily supplement vitamin D during the autumn and winter months. If you're someone who tosses and turns until the early hours, the idea that a short session on a sunbed could 'reset' your body clock sounds appealing. Some TikTok videos claim that controlled UV exposure from sunbeds can help regulate melatonin levels, which are crucial for sleep-wake cycles. But while one 2015 study found that participants with SAD tended to naturally increase the frequency of their indoor tanning during the winter, there's currently no scientific evidence to suggest that sun beds can regulate melatonin production in a similar way to natural daylight. "Despite claims that sunbeds might offer a 'safer' tanning method, they do not provide a safer alternative to natural sun exposure," says Dr Unnati Desai, national lead of GP Services at Nuffield Health. "In fact, the high intensity of UVA radiation makes them more dangerous than traditional sun exposure. "Safe vitamin D synthesis occurs from normal daytime sunlight exposure, and vitamin D supplements or fortified foods are a safer option when necessary." Ultimately, science tells us that there is no safe way to use sunbeds. Studies have found that the device's high intensity UV radiation can damage the DNA in your skin cells, leading to premature ageing and skin cancer, including melanoma, which is the most serious type of skin cancer. Scientists reckon even one sunbed session can increase your risk of developing squamous cell skin cancer by 67% and basal cell skin cancer by 29%. People who start using sunbeds before the age of 35 also have a 75% increased risk of malignant melanoma. "To be clear, there is no safe sunbeds use, and a deep tan is never 'healthy'," says Dr Sasha Dhoat, consultant dermatologist at Stratum Clinics. "Melanoma rates, the most dangerous and potentially fatal type of skin cancer are on the rise in the UK and it is thought around 100 deaths per year are linked with sunbed use." If you like having a golden glow during the warmer months, cosmetic dermatologist Laura Geige says that applying a fake tan is a far safer way to achieve a bronzed look. "I find the rise in sunbed use deeply concerning, especially under the guise of 'wellness'," she notes."We know that sunbeds are a direct carcinogen, classified by the World Health Organisation at the same risk level as tobacco and asbestos. So the idea that they offer meaningful benefits is not only misleading but also a dangerous distortion of science. "In reality, I believe sunbeds offer accelerated skin aging, DNA mutations, and a significantly heightened risk of melanoma. Even a few sessions can cause irreversible genetic damage to skin cells." Read more about tanning: 'I've battled skin cancer for 15 years after using sunbeds as a teenager' (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read) I loved suntanning, until I got skin cancer (Yahoo Life UK, 8-min read) Should sun beds be banned? Doing so could prevent deadliest form of skin cancer (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)
