Latest news with #BritishAssociationofDermatologists
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Dark skin was part of his identity until a medical condition stole it away
There was no support for Shahnawaz Towheed when he developed an auto-immune condition that causes the skin to lose its pigment. 'I didn't know anyone else who had my condition, as it only affects about one per cent of the population,' Towheed said. 'There was this sense of feeling alone and not feeling understood either … You sort of hide yourself from certain situations in which people might notice your skin or call it out.' To combat the isolation, the 26-year-old McMaster University medical student created virtual support groups for vitiligo himself — first in the United Kingdom (U.K.) and now in Canada. Finding people who looked like him and who could relate to his story was just as important as medical care for the condition, Towheed said. 'That sense of hopelessness, fear, anxiety and just ultimately not really feeling content with the way you are and the way you look,' Towheed said. 'It took many years, but I was able to allow that to shape me into someone who now has aspirations to support others who are going through the same thing.' Filling that gap in services is so important that Towheed set out to prove the worth of support groups for vitiligo. He was the lead author on a study presented to the Annual Meeting of the British Association of Dermatologists on July 2 in Glasgow. 'I thought it was received in a way that people understood the need,' Towheed said. 'A lot of the presentations there tend to be focused more on medical considerations regarding vitiligo or just things that don't really focus on the emotional or the identity challenges that people can have.' Shahnawaz Towheed as a child before vitiligo took all of his skin pigment. Towheed was six years old when he started to lose dark brown pigment on his left thigh and was diagnosed with vitiligo . His family tried every treatment, but it didn't stop the steady progress of the condition that saw him lose all his pigment by the age of 12. 'I felt a sense of shame and identity loss,' Towheed said. 'Part of my identity was someone who is South Asian and has dark skin and that was something that was gradually taken away.' With nowhere to turn for emotional support in Canada, he eventually teamed up with the Vitiligo Society in the U.K., which supports people living with the condition. He set up a virtual support group in 2023, facilitated the sessions and got feedback from patients on how it was working for the study. 'It became a really good training ground for me to understand how I can apply some of the things that the U.K. group is doing to Canada,' Towheed said. 'A lot of that became the blueprint for what we are doing now.' McMaster University medical student Shahnawaz Towheed created support groups in Canada and the United States so people with vitiligo would not feel so isolated. Towheed co-founded Vitiligo Voices Canada last year to bring support closer to home. It can be found on Instagram at @VitiligoVoicesCanada and on Facebook. 'There's a lot of people out there who may not know about the service and can really benefit,' Towheed said. 'So just making sure that people know they're not alone.' As Towheed is about to enter his last year of medical school this fall, he's considering specializing in psycho dermatology. 'That's actually what my research is really focused on is that mind skin connection,' Towheed said. 'I feel like it's something that I can offer the most to given my connection to it.' Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Hailey Bieber facing health issue due to 'stress' amid Justin Bieber financial dispute
Hailey Bieber took to social media to tell her followers her stress levels have contributed to another health issue flare up amid her husband's financial battles Hailey Bieber has admitted stress is causing her to have a health issue, with the news coming after her husband's financial disputes. The 28-year-old Rhode founder seemed to candidly reveal the effect Justin's money worries are having on her. She explained how stressful times have had an impact on her well-being and admitted certain situations cause "flare ups" of her condition. The mum-of-one recently responded to rumours her singer husband could use her Rhode millions in order to fund Scooter Braun. And on Thursday, she took to Instagram Stories to give fans a further update. She explained how she suffers from 'perioral dermatitis flares'. Sharing a close-up of her face, Hailey showed her fans the redness around her face. According to the British Association of Dermatologists, perioral dermatitis sufferers usually notice a recurrent red rash around the mouth which feels sore and may be persistent. It says: "Peri-oral dermatitis can cause burning and irritation of the skin. It is usually on the lower face, around the mouth and may occasionally involve areas around the eyes and nose. It usually does not affect the cheeks and forehead." Hailey said on her post her flare ups happen when "I'm traveling a lot, sleep deprived, hormones, the wrong SPF, new products, stress". She then explained she takes "minimal" steps to try to help during a flare up. "What I use when I have a flare: so minimal. rinse my face with water, prescription Azelaic, Hypochlorous acid, Clindamycin, Glazing Milk," she wrote. Her health update comes after Justin released his seventh studio album last week. Justin and ex manager Scooter are said to have also finally settled their financial dispute to the tune of almost $30million. It was said to have been money Justin owed as part of an advance he got from AEG for the "Justice" tour. Following the settlement, though, Scooter shared his thoughts on the new album, two years after the duo stopped working together. Taking to social media on Saturday, the music manager lavished praise on his protégé before later urging fans to give the album a listen. In his glowing Instagram Stories upload, Scooter wrote: 'Been having a beautiful start to the weekend and been getting a lot of texts about how I feel about Justin's new album. 'So I will just leave this here.. This is without a doubt, the most authentically Justin Bieber album to date. It's beautiful, raw, and truly him. And that matters.' He continued: 'I've had the privilege of witnessing his growth for almost two decades. Along every journey, there comes a time when an artist fully steps into their own — and that's what he's done here. He's poured his soul into this project, and you can feel it in every single run. 'The way he chose to release it is just as intentional as the music itself — and I'm happy to see him do it this way. I have played no role in this one, but as someone who's always believed in him, I'm incredibly proud and impressed and genuinely enjoying the music." Scooter, 44, had helped discover Justin, 31, when he was just a 13-year-old boy singing songs on YouTube. Over the years, Scooter helped craft Justin's career - which included smash hits such as Baby, What Do You Mean?, and Sorry. But the boys went their separate ways in 2023 following the release of Justin's album, Justice, which topped the charts in 2021.
Yahoo
26-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What should you look for when choosing sunscreen?
Temperatures are set to rise this week in many parts of the UK, and UV levels are expected to be high. How can you protect your skin from the sun's rays and what should you do if you get burned? The most prominent number on sunscreen bottles is the sun protection factor or SPF. The higher the number, the greater the protection it offers. SPF tells you how much protection your sunscreen provides from UVB radiation. The number refers to how much UVB it allows in, not how much it blocks. For example, a sunscreen with SPF 15 allows one-fifteenth of the sun's rays to reach your skin, or about 7%. So it filters out about 93% percent of UVB rays while SPF 30 filters about 97%. This means if you could stay in the sun for 10 minutes unprotected without burning, SPF 15 would in theory give you 15 times that protection, or two-and-a-half hours before you would burn. The British Association of Dermatologists says sunscreen with SPF 30 is a "satisfactory form of sun protection in addition to protective shade and clothing". It says sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours, regardless of its SPF. Many brands also carry a star rating from one to five. This tells you the percentage of UVA radiation that is absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to how much UVB is absorbed. The more stars the better. UVA and UVB refer to different wavelengths of radiation from the sun that enter the Earth's atmosphere. UVA is associated with ageing of the skin and pigmentation as well as skin cancer. It can affect human skin even through glass. UVB causes sunburn, and is linked to particular types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma (the most common type) and malignant melanoma. A low SPF sunscreen could have a high star rating if the ratio of UVA to UVB protection is the same as in a higher SPF product. Ideally, you want a sunscreen with a high SPF and a high star rating. What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself? What is humidity and why does it make us feel so uncomfortable? Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat These levels of protection assume sunscreen has been applied in ideal conditions. In reality, most people do not apply sunscreen perfectly, and it can rub off with sweat or while in water. Experts think most people only apply half the recommended quantity. You should not use sunscreen which is past its expiry date as it may be less effective. EU guidance states that sunscreen should only be marketed as having sun protection of "50+" and not the ratings of 80 or 100 which can be found in some countries. It thinks these could be misleading about how much extra protection they provide: SPF 50 provides about 98% protection, while SPF 100 would provide less than 100%. No product provides 100% protection from the sun's rays so the advice is that everyone should cover up and seek shade when the sun is strongest. What does hot weather do to the body? Watch out for heat exhaustion and heatstroke There are lots of "extended wear" sunscreens on the market that advertise themselves as being for use "once a day". Many claim to offer protection for up to eight hours - if applied correctly. But some dermatologists recommend that these products should still be applied at least every two hours, like any other sunscreen, since the risk that you may have missed a spot - or that it will rub or wash off in that time - are too high. A Which? report in 2016 criticised four of these products for not providing the protection promised. It found that after six to eight hours, the average protection offered decreased by 74%. But this claim was rejected by some of the manufacturers, who said their own testing had produced different results. Top sunscreens fail protection tests, Which? says Sunburn results in hot and sore skin which may peel after a few days. In extreme cases, skin can blister. It usually gets better within a week or so, but there are things you can do to ease the symptoms. The NHS recommends getting out of the sun as soon as possible, and keeping burned skin covered to protect it from the sun until it has fully healed. A cool shower or a damp towel can help, as can moisturising aftersun products, painkillers and drinking plenty of water. Ask your pharmacist for advice. You should not put petroleum jelly or ice on sunburned skin. You should resist scratching the burned areas and avoid tight-fitting clothes. Contact your GP or NHS 111 if your skin is blistered or swollen or you have other symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Regularly getting sunburned can increase the risk of skin cancer.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What should you look for when choosing sunscreen?
Temperatures are set to rise this week in many parts of the UK, and UV levels are expected to be high. How can you protect your skin from the sun's rays and what should you do if you get burned? The most prominent number on sunscreen bottles is the sun protection factor or SPF. The higher the number, the greater the protection it offers. SPF tells you how much protection your sunscreen provides from UVB radiation. The number refers to how much UVB it allows in, not how much it blocks. For example, a sunscreen with SPF 15 allows one-fifteenth of the sun's rays to reach your skin, or about 7%. So it filters out about 93% percent of UVB rays while SPF 30 filters about 97%. This means if you could stay in the sun for 10 minutes unprotected without burning, SPF 15 would in theory give you 15 times that protection, or two-and-a-half hours before you would burn. The British Association of Dermatologists says sunscreen with SPF 30 is a "satisfactory form of sun protection in addition to protective shade and clothing". It says sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours, regardless of its SPF. Many brands also carry a star rating from one to five. This tells you the percentage of UVA radiation that is absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to how much UVB is absorbed. The more stars the better. UVA and UVB refer to different wavelengths of radiation from the sun that enter the Earth's atmosphere. UVA is associated with ageing of the skin and pigmentation as well as skin cancer. It can affect human skin even through glass. UVB causes sunburn, and is linked to particular types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma (the most common type) and malignant melanoma. A low SPF sunscreen could have a high star rating if the ratio of UVA to UVB protection is the same as in a higher SPF product. Ideally, you want a sunscreen with a high SPF and a high star rating. What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself? What is humidity and why does it make us feel so uncomfortable? Hot weather: How to sleep in the heat These levels of protection assume sunscreen has been applied in ideal conditions. In reality, most people do not apply sunscreen perfectly, and it can rub off with sweat or while in water. Experts think most people only apply half the recommended quantity. You should not use sunscreen which is past its expiry date as it may be less effective. EU guidance states that sunscreen should only be marketed as having sun protection of "50+" and not the ratings of 80 or 100 which can be found in some countries. It thinks these could be misleading about how much extra protection they provide: SPF 50 provides about 98% protection, while SPF 100 would provide less than 100%. No product provides 100% protection from the sun's rays so the advice is that everyone should cover up and seek shade when the sun is strongest. What does hot weather do to the body? Watch out for heat exhaustion and heatstroke There are lots of "extended wear" sunscreens on the market that advertise themselves as being for use "once a day". Many claim to offer protection for up to eight hours - if applied correctly. But some dermatologists recommend that these products should still be applied at least every two hours, like any other sunscreen, since the risk that you may have missed a spot - or that it will rub or wash off in that time - are too high. A Which? report in 2016 criticised four of these products for not providing the protection promised. It found that after six to eight hours, the average protection offered decreased by 74%. But this claim was rejected by some of the manufacturers, who said their own testing had produced different results. Top sunscreens fail protection tests, Which? says Sunburn results in hot and sore skin which may peel after a few days. In extreme cases, skin can blister. It usually gets better within a week or so, but there are things you can do to ease the symptoms. The NHS recommends getting out of the sun as soon as possible, and keeping burned skin covered to protect it from the sun until it has fully healed. A cool shower or a damp towel can help, as can moisturising aftersun products, painkillers and drinking plenty of water. Ask your pharmacist for advice. You should not put petroleum jelly or ice on sunburned skin. You should resist scratching the burned areas and avoid tight-fitting clothes. Contact your GP or NHS 111 if your skin is blistered or swollen or you have other symptoms of heat exhaustion or heatstroke. Regularly getting sunburned can increase the risk of skin cancer.
BBC News
17-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
How does sunscreen work, and what do SPF and star ratings mean?
Temperatures are set to rise this week in many parts of the UK, and UV levels are expected to be high. How can you protect your skin from the sun's rays? What do the SPF numbers mean on sunscreen? The most prominent number on sunscreen bottles is the sun protection factor or higher the number, the greater the protection it tells you how much protection your sunscreen provides from UVB radiation. The number refers to how much UVB it allows in, not how much it example, a sunscreen with SPF 15 allows one-fifteenth of the sun's rays to reach your skin, or about 7%.So it filters out about 93% percent of UVB rays while SPF 30 filters about 97%.This means if you could stay in the sun for 10 minutes unprotected without burning, SPF 15 would in theory give you 15 times that protection, or two-and-a-half hours before you would burn. The British Association of Dermatologists says sunscreen with SPF 30 is a "satisfactory form of sun protection in addition to protective shade and clothing".It says sunscreen should be reapplied at least every two hours, regardless of its SPF. What are UVA and UVB and what do the star ratings mean? Many brands also carry a star rating from one to tells you the percentage of UVA radiation that is absorbed by the sunscreen in comparison to how much UVB is absorbed. The more stars the and UVB refer to different wavelengths of radiation from the sun that enter the Earth's is associated with ageing of the skin and pigmentation as well as skin cancer. It can affect human skin even through causes sunburn, and is linked to particular types of skin cancer - basal cell carcinoma (the most common type) and malignant are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?A low SPF sunscreen could have a high star rating if the ratio of UVA to UVB protection is the same as in a higher SPF you want a sunscreen with a high SPF and a high star rating. How effective is the best sunscreen? These levels of protection assume sunscreen has been applied in ideal reality, most people do not apply sunscreen perfectly, and it can rub off with sweat or while in water. Experts think most people only apply half the recommended should not use sunscreen which is past its expiry date as it may be less effective. EU guidance states that sunscreen should only be marketed as having sun protection of "50+" and not the ratings of 80 or 100 which can be found in some thinks these could be misleading about how much extra protection they provide: SPF 50 provides about 98% protection, while SPF 100 would provide less than 100%.No product provides 100% protection from the sun's rays so the advice is that everyone should cover up and seek shade when the sun is strongest. What about 'once-a-day' sunscreens? There are lots of "extended wear" sunscreens on the market that advertise themselves as being for use "once a day". Many claim to offer protection for up to eight hours - if applied some dermatologists recommend that these products should still be applied at least every two hours, like any other sunscreen, since the risk that you may have missed a spot - or that it will rub or wash off in that time - are too high.A Which? report in 2016 criticised four of these products for not providing the protection promised. It found that after six to eight hours, the average protection offered decreased by 74%.But this claim was rejected by some of the manufacturers, who said their own testing had produced different sunscreens fail protection tests, Which? says
