Burning for a Sun Tan

Almost 50% of Brits got sunburned this summer in the name of beauty and half of those said they would do it again to get a tan.

The stats come from the latest survey conducted by Superdrug and Cancer Research UK, revealing the damaging lengths that people go to to achieve a ‘perfect’ tan.

Peter Beard, skin specialist at SkinGenesis said: “These results are really quite shocking. It is no secret that serious skin cancers are on the rise, yet more and more people are risking their health in the name of vanity.

“A tan, i.e. a darkening of the skin, is caused by the body’s production of melanin, which is a natural reaction to protect the skin against harmful UV rays. Although there is no such thing as ‘a healthy tan’, as it is simply evidence of skin damage, people do not have to burn their skin in order to achieve a healthy glow.”

To avoid literally burning for a tan, SkinGenesis’ Safety in the Sun campaign aims to educate people about the dangers of staying in the sun for too long and promotes the enjoyment of the summer weather whilst taking sensible precautions and following simple sun protection advice.

Young people warned by BBC on dangers of tanning beds

A documentary aimed at young people called ‘Revealed’ on BBC Two at the weekend highlighted the dangers of sunbeds on young skin.

GPs say they are witnessing record levels of some of the most dangerous forms of skin cancer in young people.

Whether it is a sunbed you are using, or simply sunbathing in the natural sun light, too much UV radiation exposure can result in some nasty melanomas.

‘Revealed… Loving the Tan’ featured a case study  called Amy, 24 from Sheffield, who developed skin cancer on her arm, and it was only by a chance mention to a GP about a suspicious mole that triggered her diagnosis.

SkinGenesis cannot stress enough the importance of being sensible in the sun. All summer we have been running our ‘Safety in the Sun’ campaign, providing advice on how to have fun in the sun, while protecting yourself from the dangers.

Our sun protection advice would be to simply not use sunbeds. Natural exposure to the sun is fine, as long as it is not abused and adequate sun protection precautions are taken, such as wearing sun cream, wearing a hat and avoiding the sun at peak times.

Watch Amy’s story on Revealed here.

All-over tan is impossible to achieve – Sun protection advice

A perfect all-over tan is impossible to achieve, according to new research. The scientists suggest that instead of having one skin type, everyone has different skin regions meaning that some regions tan more easily than others.

Tests using UV light to tan volunteers found a significant difference between how a persons back tans and how their bottom tans. Their backs tanned a lot more easily, and this can explain why many people find it difficult to develop an all over tan.

It has also been shown than the top of the back is easier to tan than the legs, and that the outer arms will tan more easily than the inner arms. Therefore, what is burning for one region of skin may not be for another, which makes advice on how to long to spend in the sun more difficult to follow.

The study was carried out in order to investigate why the number of melanoma tumours varies depending on body site, and the research suggests it may be due to the different ways that areas of the skin react to the sun.

We offer a great sun protection guide to help you manage your sun exposure and protect your skin, because even areas of skin that are more difficult to tan are susceptible to burning.

Sunburn cells look like cancer cells – sun protection advice

SunAware has drawn attention to the fact that sunburned cells mirror the look of a cancer cell, highlighting the dangers that the sun’s UV rays pose.

We often get asked whether a bit of sunburn is better than really red, sore sunburn, and the answer is basically ‘no’.

Sunburn is the result of damaged skin, so whether you’ve spent just a bit too long in the sun, or hours more than your skin can handle, the damage has been done either way. The long term effects of any sun damage are generally the same.

We don’t like to hear organisations saying ‘avoid the sun at all costs’, because you really need not do this. The best sun protection advice is to seek shade at peak times, eat well, use an SPF 30+ and just be sensible. We get such little amounts of sun in the UK, we alway urge people to get out there and enjoy it while it lasts!

Our body needs the sun to make vitamin D, and did you know there are various lifestyle changes you can make in order to protect your skin naturally (in addition to sunscreen)?

• Prevent sunburn with ketchup: Eating processed tomatoes (for example tomato juice or tomato sauce) will help prevent sun burn.
• Drink coffee, get fit! Caffeine and exercise combined will boost the body’s immune system against UV radiation.
• A colourful diet is important: Fresh fruit and vegetables are essential. Go for freshness, variety and intense colours.
• Top up folic acid: Foods rich in folic acid include broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, peas, chick peas and brown rice.
• Antioxidants are essential: Intensely coloured berries and red grapes are a good source of antioxidants.

‘Safety in the Sun’ campaign gets sporty in Chester

Chester-based skin expert SkinGenesis took its ‘Safety in the Sun’ campaign to one of the city’s best loved sports days last weekend to provide sun protection advice with a difference.

Clinic Manager Deborah Cope sports the SkinGenesis UV Guardian Wristband

SkinGenesis recognises the benefits of sun exposure and is encouraging families to get active and have fun in the warmer weather, whilst still raising awareness of the dangers from the sun’s harmful rays.

Peter Beard, skin expert at SkinGenesis, said: “We’re all bored of the same sun protection advice, which would often have you believe that all sun exposure is harmful to your health. This isn’t strictly true; in fact sunlight makes us feel good and is vital to help the body produce vitamin D, which is why we’re encouraging people to make the most of the sun, but to do so sensibly.”

The SkinGenesis girls were on hand at Mollington Village Sports Day on Saturday 17th July from 12pm – 5pm to educate participants and their families on how to take good care of their skin this summer, understand the risks and how to protect themselves naturally against harmful UVA and UVB radiation.

Attendees received a free UV Guardian wristband and personalised information on how to stay safe in the sun. They were also invited to head down to its clinic at Mollington Grange on Parkgate Road to book a free expert skin analysis.

Peter added: “Skin cancer can be deadly and is one of the most common diseases we face today. Being sensible and taking good care of the skin during the summer season can protect the skin from developing malignant melanoma.

“When you’re having fun, you often don’t realise how much sun you’ve had until it’s too late and you burn. There are various ways to protect yourself naturally, such as eating processed tomatoes and drinking coffee, in addition to the usual advice of wearing a high factor sunscreen, seeking shade at peak times and keeping hydrated to avoid sun related illness.

“Some sun protection creams do not protect against both types of radiation, so it’s important to check the labels to ensure you’re fully protected.”

Peter Beard’s alternative tips for Safety in the Sun:

• Prevent sunburn with ketchup: Eating processed tomatoes (for example tomato juice or tomato sauce) will help prevent sun burn.

• Drink coffee, get fit! Caffeine and exercise combined will boost the body’s immune system against UV radiation.

• A colourful diet is important: Fresh fruit and vegetables are essential. Go for freshness, variety and intense colours.

• Top up folic acid: Foods rich in folic acid include broccoli, brussel sprouts, asparagus, peas, chick peas and brown rice.

• Antioxidants are essential: Intensely coloured berries and red grapes are a good source of antioxidants.

SkinGenesis has clinics in Leeds, Manchester and Chester and provides sun protection advice during all its consultations. UV imaging technology is provided during a free expert skin analysis to highlight areas of the skin that have already suffered damage from the sun’s radiation.

For more sun protection advice or general information on SkinGenesis visit http://www.skingenesis.co.uk or call the Chester clinic on 01244 853802.

Sun Protection Advice: Check the UV Index!

With the sun shining and the UK hotting up for what is set to be a scorcher of a summer, it’s important to stay ahead of the game when it comes to sun protection.

By checking the UV Index on a daily basis, you can determine the level of risk that the sun poses to your skin, therefore allowing you to choose the best means of sun protection and manage the risks.

You can check the UV Index here, and then compare it to our chart below.

UVI	Exposure Risk
0 – 2	Minimal
3 – 4	Low
5 – 6	Moderate
7 – 8	High
9 – 10	Very High

For all our clinic visitors, we’ll be posting guidance right here on the blog for Leeds, Manchester and Chester.

For more information on UV Index and to see how you can get your own personalised sun protection advice, see the SkinGenesis website.

Leeds: UV Index -> 5 (moderate risk)

Manchester: UV Index -> 5 (moderate risk)

Chester: UV Index -> 6 (moderate risk)

More men dying from skin cancer

As SkinGenesis launches its Safety in the Sun campaign for what is set to be a scorching sporting summer, new stats from Cancer Research UK suggest that more men than ever are dying from the deadliest form of skin cancer.

SkinGenesis offers a free expert skin analysis to everyone, which can show you the level of skin damage you’ve already experienced – it’s really interesting and can be quite surprising at what the naked eye doesn’t see (see images below!).

What the eye sees...

...the sun damage the eye doesn't see!

This summer we will be encouraging people to take more care in the sun and protect themselves with a minimum SPF 30 and suitable clothing.

With the World Cup starting this weekend, more men will forget or overlook the need to be sensible in the sun. By avoiding sunburn and seeking shade at peak times throughout the day, people can dramatically reduce their risk to developing skin cancer later in life.

From 14th June 2010, visitors to our clinics in Leeds, Manchester and Chester will be able to pop in without an appointment for free personalised sun protection advice and for a limited period, a free UV Guardian Wristband, which indicates when you’ve spent enough time in the sun.

Different skin-types have varying tolerances to the sun, meaning that some people burn more quickly than others under the sun’s harmful UV rays.

BBQ weather calls for greater sun protection

In true British style, the last couple of weekends had us rushing to our wardrobes and digging out our shorts and sunglasses in order to maximise our enjoyment of the warm weather this year. But how many people remembered to wear sun protection cream and dodge the rays at peak times of the day? Thought not!

We all like to make the most of the warmer months, but binge-tanning when you’re out in the garden is not good for your health. Sunburn is painful and uncomfortable and really not worth it if you just peel instead of tan. It also increases your chances of developing skin cancer so it’s good to be sensible in the sun and enjoy it whilst it lasts.

A tan may be fashionable, but did you know that when your skin darkens, it is your body’s natural way of telling you that you have damaged your skin?

We believe that with so many effective fake tan products available, it is much safer to apply an artificial tan than bake your body in the sun and risk your health.

Read our top tips on sun protection.

‘Ice-cream weather on its way’ says MSN – and so is the sun protection

It looks like we’re set for some warmer weather over the next few weekends, and since it was revealed that we Brits spend six months of our lives chin-wagging about the weather, it’ll definitely give us something to talk about.

As we ditch the scarves and cardi’s and delve into our freezers for the icepops, we should also be thinking about protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays.

After covering up from the cold harsh weather we’ve had over winter, and the more recent cold snaps following a milder April, the skin will be more prone to sunburn and damage, so make sure you take care over the next few weeks.

Cover up with a hat, wear Sun Protection Factor 30 and seek shade during peaks times throughout the day.

A tan may look good for a few weeks, but it’s not worth the painful sunburn and long term health risks that come with it.

Enjoy the sun and warmer months – just do it sensibly!

Sunbed ‘addicts’ increase ageing and cancer risk

Around one third of sunbed users are addicted to their artificial tanning effects, researchers in New York have found, and SkinGenesis predicts that the number of ‘addicts’ is set to rise as people seek out the perfect tan.

Gillian MacPherson, Top Model UK Winner and SkinGenesis client

Researchers at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center found that those who became addicted to sunbeds were also more at risk of suffering from anxiety and over-indulging in alcohol and drugs. By tackling these underlying problems and addictions it would be possible to educate and encourage people to quit using them, cut their skin cancer risk and enjoy the natural sun safely.

As Summer draws nearer we at SkinGenesis can only foresee more and more people trying to get that tan top-up ahead of the summer holidays, however we are urging people not to use sunbeds or over-expose themselves to hardful UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Use fake tan or enjoy being an English Rose!

Gillian MacPherson, 49 and a classic model from Surrey is currently undergoing some corrective anti ageing treatments at SkinGenesis in Chester. She said: “I grew up in South Africa and in those days we really did not know the damage that the sun can do to skin so we used to stay out in the sun without any protection and as teenagers we even used to tan with cooking oil! Unfortunately that damage is showing itself now, years later.  Obviously now I never go in the sun without protecting my skin with a high factor sunscreen, hat, sunglasses!”

People are generally well-educated about the harmful effects of the sun today and sun protection advice has never been more straightforward and easy to follow.

• Use sun protection factor 30+ when out in the sun, and reapply regularly throughout the day
• Protect the delicate skin on the face and neck by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses
• Stay out of direct sunlight between the hours of 11am and 3pm, as this is when you are most at risk of burning
• Do not use sunbeds. At all.

For more sun protection advice, or to take advantage of a free expert skin analysis in Leeds, Manchester or Chester, visit the skin specialists at SkinGenesis, who will analyse the sun damage already done and advise on how to restore the skin’s youthfulness through the best anti-ageing treatments.

www.skingenesis.co.uk