How concerned should I be about my crusty brown skin patches? Dr Ellie reveals whether you should be worried about cancer
Dr Ellie Cannon replies: It is unlikely. These sound like seborrhoeic keratoses – harmless skin growths that affect around three-quarters of people over 70 and often appear as rough, crusty patches in shades of tan, brown or black that can grow several centimetres wide.
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Waitrose issues ‘do not eat' warning for popular ready meal which poses allergy risk
Waitrose is recalling a popular ready meal after it said some products were 'mispacked', causing an allergy risk. The supermarket own-brand 'Indian takeaway for two' has been pulled from shelves because it contains sesame and soya, which are not mentioned on the label. According to the Food Standards Agency (FSA), which published the recall warning, the product is a health risk to anyone with an allergy to sesame or soya because spring rolls were mispacked in the box. All of the takeaway products sold in 1,412g boxes with the sell-by date 25 July 2025 are affected. No other products are affected by the recall. Those with an allergy to sesame or soya have been told not to eat the product and instead return it to their local Waitrose and Partners branch for a full refund. The FSA explained: 'Sometimes foods have to be withdrawn or recalled if there is a risk to consumers because the allergy labelling is missing or incorrect or if there is any other food allergy risk. When there is a food allergy risk, the FSA will issue an allergy alert.' A point-of-sale notice has also been issued to its customers. These notices explain why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product. Soya is a food ingredient made from soy beans and is used to make soy sauce and tofu. Those with an allergy to soya can suffer an immediate reaction or a delayed reaction, according to Anaphylaxis UK. Symptoms of an immediate reaction include a rash, tingling or itching in the mouth, and swelling of the lips, eyes or face. It can also cause stomach pain and vomiting. Those who suffer from a delayed allergic reaction may experience stomach pain, diarrhoea and vomiting. Sesame seeds and sesame oil can cause allergic reactions, and these can sometimes be serious, Anaphylaxis UK said. In many cases, those who are allergic to sesame can experience a rash, known as hives, anywhere on the body. It can also trigger tingling or an itchy feeling in the mouth, swelling of the lips, face or eyes, and stomach pain and vomiting. In more serious cases, it can cause anaphylaxis, triggering swelling of the throat and breathing difficulties. Waitrose said in the recall: 'We apologise it has been necessary to recall this product and for the inconvenience caused.'
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Sali Hughes on beauty: if your teen won't wear sunscreen, try tempting them with these products
Since Covid, anti-science conspiracy theories have been circulated ever more widely on social media. The most worrying to dermatologists is a growing movement against sunscreen, the best and most evidenced precaution (beyond covering up with clothing or staying indoors) that we can take against skin cancers, including melanoma. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. The conspiracy theorists claim that sunscreen causes cancer, rather than preventing it. Although there is no robust evidence to support this (and there is a mountain of clinical data showing the opposite), kids are inevitably most susceptible to the propaganda. Teen beauty brand Indu recently conducted a survey which found that 60% of teenage girls say they've been sunburnt on their face, but only 27% wear sunscreen daily. Teenage boys (including my own) are even less likely to wear SPF. So, while there's little we can do about the proliferation of online quackery, and the onus should be on social media platforms like TikTok, we can encourage our children to incorporate sunscreen into their daily routines. A non-greasy, quickly absorbed, makeup-friendly, high-protection SPF will help. Indu's own Everyday Hero SPF50 (£25) fits the bill. A lightweight synthetic sunscreen with a smooth, hydrated finish, it comes in a practical, backpack-friendly tube that should appeal to any gender. Bubble skincare is designed and marketed at teens and tweens, but I like its Solar Mate Daily Mineral Sunscreen SPF30 (£19) myself. This is a physical sunscreen, using zinc (my own preference over titanium), that goes on almost clear and has a matt, but not chalky, finish. It will appease young people who have been (wrongly) convinced that mineral SPF is somehow superior to synthetics. It now comes in an additional tinted version (£19) that can easily substitute for light, school-friendly makeup. The unaffordability of sunscreens is a hot topic in beauty. There's no doubt that prohibitive VAT-liable SPF prices will negatively impact health for people on lower incomes. I admire the dermatologist-founded brand Altruist enormously for its mission to democratise UV protection. Its Oily Skin Cream SPF50 (£9.50) is terrific for teen skin. It combines mineral and synthetic ingredients, and has a dry-to-the-touch finish that sits nicely under makeup. At just shy of a tenner, it's a comparatively inexpensive way to slot an essential healthcare product into a child's routine. Sign up to Inside Saturday The only way to get a look behind the scenes of the Saturday magazine. Sign up to get the inside story from our top writers as well as all the must-read articles and columns, delivered to your inbox every weekend. after newsletter promotion Model: Scout Waddington. Photography assistant: Declan Slattery. Hair and makeup: Sarah Cherry
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Britain's 'most dangerous plant' strikes in Newcastle: Toddler is left with a blister the size of a PLUM after brushing past giant hogweed
A toddler was left with second-degree burns and an agonising blister 'the size of a plum' after a brush with 'Britain's most dangerous plant'. Brooklyn Bone, three, was probably exposed to giant hogweed while picking flowers on the way to childcare in Newcastle upon Tyne. The next day a blister appeared on his finger, and that night 'it seemed to blow up', quadrupling in size as it filled with pus. Mum Hether Irving said: 'I think he picked a flower on the way to childcare on Thursday morning and potentially came across it then. 'He was only exposed to it for a matter of minutes. 'It was the next day, on Friday afternoon, that I noticed a small blister on the edge of his nail. 'I knew something was wrong as through the night it seemed to blow up.' She continued: 'He was crying, holding his finger in the air, he couldn't have anything touch it, and he kept shaking. 'It blistered right the way down, half way to his knuckle, and by Saturday morning it was a huge pus-filled blister that had quadrupled in size. 'It was the size of a plum.' Little Brooklyn was taken to A&E at South Tyneside District Hospital. They said he had most likely had a brush with the dreaded giant hogweed. Known as 'Britain's most dangerous plant', it has sap that stops the skin protecting itself against the sun, leading to gruesome burns when exposed to daylight. And because it often causes no immediate pain, its victims can continue to burn in the sun heedless of any problem. On top of that, the plant can spread its sap with only a moment's exposure. At hospital, Brooklyn was put on the road to recovery. Some victims of the giant hogweed endure years of heightened sensitivity to sunlight where they were burned Miss Irving, a beautician, said: 'They immediately took pictures and explained what they thought it was. 'They lanced it and drained the fluid off, and we were sent up to the burns unit at the Royal Victoria Infirmary where he's being treated for second-degree burns. 'They have said it'll take up to four weeks to fully heal, and we have been back to hospital twice to change dressings. 'Each time it was very painful but the nurses were excellent.' There could be longer term damage too. Some victims of the giant hogweed endure years of heightened sensitivity to sunlight where they were burned. Glasgow pensioner, George Parsonage, last year said he was still troubled by a giant hogweed wound sustained in the 1960s. Brooklyn too must be extra careful in future. Hether, 40, said: 'They've said if he goes in the sun in future, he needs factor 50 on his finger as it's now very dangerous, as he will burn because of the hogweed.' She continued: 'I urge people not to let their children touch bushes, or things that seem harmless. 'We were lucky it was only one finger, I can't imagine what that would be like if it was a full arm or leg. 'It was absolutely horrific. His skin was peeled off half way down his finger to prevent infection.' The giant hogweed is native to the Caucasus, but was introduced to Britain as an ornamental plant in 1817, and its spread has now got out of control. It was called 'without a shadow of a doubt, the most dangerous plant in Britain' by Mike Duddy, of the Mersey Basin Rivers Trust in 2015. What is giant hogweed? Giant Hogweed is a non-native species to the UK. It was first introduced to the UK as an ornamental plant in the 19th century after being discovered in the Caucasus Mountains and Central Asia. The plant escaped and naturalised in the wild and can now be found throughout much of the UK - especially on river banks as its seeds are transported by the water. It has been spreading uncontrollably across Scotland for decades, producing up to 50,000 seeds which can survive for many years. But the sap of the weed, which looks like a giant version of the harmless plant cow parsley, is extremely toxic to humans and animals, causing horrific burns on the skin. The skin remains sensitive to UV light for many years - and can even cause blindness if near the eyes.
