Latest news with #skinhealth
Sky News
8 hours ago
- Health
- Sky News
Sunburn isn't just red skin - here's what's happening underneath the burn
The government is warning that the NHS will be under even more pressure this weekend as temperatures soar, so looking after yourself in the sunshine is crucial. But how much do you know about the science behind sunburn… and how to prevent it? What is sunburn? While we all know what sunburned skin looks like - red and sore - it might not be so clear what is happening underneath the skin. "Essentially, it's inflammation," said Dr Rachel Abbott, a consultant dermatologist who specialises in skin cancer for the Cardiff and Vale University health board. Ultraviolet radiation is carcinogenic and when it is allowed to penetrate the skin, it triggers an inflammatory reaction, said Dr Abbott. Histamines - chemicals produced by the body's immune system - and prostaglandins - compounds that help the body deal with injuries and illness - are released as your body begins reacting to the damage. 0:54 Although the inflamed, red, itchy skin will fade, those carcinogens will do permanent damage to your DNA, according to Dr Abbott. "The redness and pain can be managed symptomatically, but that DNA damage is permanent," she said. "We've all got DNA repair mechanisms in our bodies. But this is why we're seeing such a massive increase in skin cancer, because [as we get older], the battle between the DNA damage and the skin cells becomes more than the immune system can cope with." Since the early 1990s, the number of skin cancer cases in Britain has more than doubled and last year, the number of cases was predicted to hit an all-time high of 20,800, according to Cancer Research UK. The cancer charity partially attributed the rise in cases to older groups of people knowing "less about the dangers of tanning in their youth", who "may have taken advantage of the cheap package holiday boom from the 1960s". This would lead to increased sun exposure and more damaged DNA, increasing the risk of skin cancer further down the line. The 'most effective' protection (and it isn't suncream) There is currently no conclusive treatment to deal with the DNA damage caused by sunburn - although Dr Abbott said there is "exciting" work being done in that area. Instead, the way to stop yourself from sustaining long-term damage is to protect yourself from UV rays. "A lot of people associate temperature with the heat of the sun, whereas actually it's the UV index that's the critical thing. And that usually peaks around midday," said Dr Abbott. 1:19 Contrary to what some may think (or hope), suncream should be a last resort. Shade "is the most effective thing", she said, but if you have to be out in the sunshine, "obviously we recommend hats, clothing and then sunscreen". "It is a last resort for those areas that you can't cover up with clothing and hats, and sunglasses." The cancer care charity Macmillan recommends a suncream with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 50, or at least 30, and to reapply it regularly. "There is no such thing as a safe suntan," advises the charity. It also recommends using around six to eight teaspoons of suncream for an adult - one teaspoon for each limb, one for your chest, one for your back and one for your head and neck.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- 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.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Peptide alchemy: here's how fish-cell biotech transforms skincare
[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] In a sterile, closed vessel at Avant's Singapore production facility, a vial containing just milligrams of fish cells sparks a carefully controlled cultivation process. Within weeks, those cells multiply into kilograms of biomass. After harvesting and washing, the team uses a non-chemical lysis method to break open the cells and retrieve every molecule inside. 'Some asked, 'Why not just source fish collagen from an established supplier?' Collagen is only one protein; it's primarily a structural protein rather than a signalling protein,' says Carrie Chan, CEO of Avant. 'Collagen acts like the scaffold of a building, but it can't call in the repair crews; by contrast, the peptides in ZelluGEN™ each play messenger roles, telling skin cells to ramp up collagen, build and align collagen fibrils and heal damage,' she explains with a simple analogy. Among them is Fibulin, for example, a peptide that guides elastic-fibre formation and decreases sharply as skin ages. ZelluGEN™ replenishes Fibulin, along with hundreds of other peptides, all at once, she explains further. 'Our skin cells produce less Fibulin as we age and after UV damage, so replenishing collagen or just one or two peptides may have only a limited effect. Nature produces exactly what is needed. Each protein is unique and essential.'
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Major safety warning on popular sunscreen: 'It doesn't do what it says', study finds
A popular sunscreen does not work, potentially leaving consumers at risk of skin cancer, according to a report. Consumer champion Which? tested 15 sun creams from Boots, Garnier and Nivea, as well as own-brand alternatives, and saw surprising results. While a £2.99 supermarket-own sun protectant passed the stringent testing process, a £28 branded favourite failed to reach industry standards. As a result, the consumer body warned, users may not be adequately protected from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays - putting them at risk of cancer. Ultrasun Family SPF30, sold by some of the biggest high street retailers and costing £28, markets itself as being 'perfect for the whole family' and 'especially suitable for children with sensitive skin'. But the cream failed two separate tests that measured both its sun protection factor -or SPF - and UV protection. To trial the creams, scientists applied a small amount on volunteers' backs, before shining a lamp on the patch to simulate the sun's rays. The time it takes for the skin to become red was then measured. Ultrasun Family SPF30 (left), sold by some of the biggest high street retailers, markets itself as being 'perfect for the whole family' and 'especially suitable for children with sensitive skin'. Another sunscreen that made it on to the Don't Buy list was Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30 - £3.75 per bottle In another test, scientists took a sample of the cream and spread it onto a glass plate to measure the absorption of UV radiation directly. To pass, the sunscreen needed to provide at least one third of the claimed SPF. SPF is measurement of the length of time you can be in the sun before you get burnt. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 will take 30 times longer to damage your skin compared to no protection at all. If a product failed to demonstrate the level of SPF it claimed to have on its first test, Which? repeated the test. If it passed the second time around, a third test was done. Any product that failed either test twice overall, was labelled a 'Don't Buy' by Which?. Natalie Hitchins, Which?'s head of home products and services, warned shoppers to look out for these products, as they are not guaranteed to protect as expected. 'It's really concerning that widely available sunscreens could be putting families at risk by failing to offer the level of sun protection claimed on the packaging,' she said. 'Our results prove that there's no need to splash out to keep you and your loved ones safe in the sun as we've found other cheap and reliable options.' A spokesman from Ultrasun told Which? the brand was fully confident in its testing protocols and that these surpass industry standards, adding: 'As an independent brand delivering very high UVB and UVA protection options for over 30 years, our detailed testing processes, independent and peer reviewed, continue to not only meet but surpass industry standards. Our chosen testing protocol is one of the strictest available. 'Further detail and clarification from Which? on their testing protocols would also be helpful, particularly on how these resulted in two different results from the same sample. We conclusively support the results of our independent tests which found the Ultrasun Family SPF30 reached a UVB-SPF in vivo of 31.4 and a UVA-PF in vitro of 13.1 which equates to a 92 per cent UVA absorbance. The UVA absorbance is calculated by the formula 1-(1/UVA-PF).' Another sunscreen that made it on to this year's Don't Buy list was Morrisons Moisturising Sun Spray SPF30, priced at £3.75 per bottle. Morrisons says it is looking closely at the data and working with its supplier to carry out additional independent testing. Sunscreens that did pass the Which? test included Aldi's Lacura Sensitive Sun Lotion SPF50+, which costs just £2.99. At just £1.50 per 100ml, it also earned a Which? Great Value badge. Lidl's Cien Sun Spray 30SPF High (£3.79) Boot's Soltan Protect & Moisturise Suncare Spray SPF30 (£5.50) Nivea's Sun Protect and Moisture Lotion SPF30 (£7.90) and Sainsbury's Sun Protect Moisturising Lotion SPF30 (£5.50) all also passed the safety tests. The damning report comes days after Kelsey Parker, 34, came under fire for admitting she doesn't put sunscreen on her children. The podcast host claimed daughter Aurelia, five, and son Bodhi, four, 'don't burn' and that using sunscreen 'causes skin cancer'. The children's father, The Wanted star Tom Parker, tragically died from brain cancer in 2022. Speaking in the latest episode of her Mum's The Word! podcast about 'the secret world of parenting', Ms Parker confessed that she opts to keep her children out of the sun rather than using SPF to protect them. She added that she makes 'organic' sunscreen out of beeswax for UV protection instead. 'It's bad for you–that sunscreen,' she said. 'My kids do not wear sun cream. 'The only thing that I may put on them is an organic sun cream. 'My kids, we went on holiday, I never put sun cream on them and they do not burn. 'I never used to wear sun cream, sun cream causes skin cancer.' Since making the controversial remarks, the expectant mother has been blasted by listeners, who have accused her of spreading 'dangerous misinformation. One listener wrote on social media: 'This is really dangerous spreading this information. Please research.' 'This is insane and so unsafe. It's so damaging, burning doesn't indicate sun damage, it can literally kill them. Wow,' a second said. A third slammed the 'dangerous advice', while a fourth called the dismissal of conventional sun cream 'irresponsible'. Experts say there is no evidence that sunscreen causes cancer in humans. Dr Bav Shergill a consultant dermatologist at the Queen Victoria Hospital, London and spokesperson for the British Association of Dermatologists, previously told MailOnline: 'Sunscreens are a safe and effective way to protect your skin from burning and other forms of sun damage. 'Millions of people have used sunscreen over many decades so we can be confident about their safety profile.' Studies have long shown sun creams can contain both mineral and chemical UV filters. Mineral UV filters mainly remain on the skin's surface and form a physical barrier to deflect UV rays before they penetrate your skin. Chemical UV filters, meanwhile, absorb UV light and convert it into heat energy. As well as being used in sun creams, they may be added to other personal care products, such as moisturisers. Some research on animals, mainly mice, has indicated many commonly used chemical UV filters in high quantities could be endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — chemicals that interfere with hormones — such as mimicking natural oestrogen found in our bodies. Lifetime exposure to oestrogen is an established risk factor for cancers, including breast. But no research on humans has backed this up. Going without sunscreen, meanwhile, has been shown to directly raise the risk of developing skin cancer. Around 15,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with melanoma each year—the UK's fifth most common cancer—with the incidence rate rising faster than any other common cancer. A recent study from Cancer Research UK warned found that an alarming 87 per cent of melanoma cases, the equivalent of 17,100 in the UK each year, are caused by overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, either directly from the sun or sun beds—meaning they could be avoided. This is because increased UV exposure can damage the DNA in skin cells, triggering mutations that become cancerous. From here, the cancer can spread to the blood vessels beneath the skin, getting into the bloodstream and spreading throughout the body. Last year, rates of the cancer reached a record high in the UK, with new diagnoses increasing by almost a third in just a decade, according to the charity. According to the NHS website, people should apply suncream to avoid burning and use 'at least factor 30'. 'Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. You can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy,' the site reads. The health service also recommends avoiding the sun when it is at its strongest, between the hours of 11am and 3pm from March to November, and to cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses.
Telegraph
19-06-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘My adult acne dictated my life for a decade – until I realised it was caused by stress'
The medical explanation for how how stress impacts skin This link between psychological stress and skin health is now well supported by science, says Dr Ahmed. Stress alters the immune response in the skin, increases inflammation, and disrupts the skin barrier – making it more reactive to heat, fragrance, pollution, even sweat. 'When you're stressed, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is activated, flooding the body with cortisol, a hormone that slows down wound healing, reduces immunity, and increases inflammation,' Dr Ahmed explains. 'Even the microbiome on your skin changes under stress,' she adds. 'Because the skin itself contains its own stress response system – meaning that even over-cleansing or exposure to pollution can cause visible flare-ups. So stress is really not just in your head, it's in your actual cells. What's more, people don't realise, or perhaps forget, that your skin is a sensory organ, so it reflects how safe, or unsafe, your body feels.' Dr Ahmed believes several factors lie behind the rise in her patient numbers: burnout, increased screen time, poor sleep, dietary shifts, and the pressure of constant self-surveillance through social media. 'We're living in high-alert mode, and our skin is reflecting it,' she says. Taking a deeper, holistic approach In Kiara's case, it wasn't until she began working with a nutritionist that things started to shift. 'I'd dismissed nutrition as irrelevant,' she admits. 'But once we looked at my gut health, inflammation, and hormones – and yes, stress! – it all made so much more sense. Kiara also radically simplified her skincare routine – ditching aggressive acids and focusing on calming, barrier-supporting products instead. But, even more importantly, says Kiara, was shifting her mindset. 'It wasn't just about skin. I had to sort out the decade-long relationship I had with my self-esteem that was the very thing causing the stress and anxiety.' The emotional scars that last longer than the spots Interestingly, even when symptoms improve, patients often take far longer to recover emotionally, says Dr Ahmed. 'There's something we call 'psycho-lag,' where the skin clears before the person feels safe or confident again. They've lived with fear, shame, trauma. It doesn't vanish overnight. But it can be worked on.' For Kiara, the final turning point came when she began speaking openly about her experience. 'I started an Instagram account, initially anonymously, no face, just words. And the messages came flooding in from other sufferers: 'Me too', and 'I thought I was the only one.' That's when I realised this isn't just about skin – it's about connection, confidence, and finally being seen. That's instant stress relief.' Today, Kiara's confidence – and her complexion – is so vastly improved she's changed careers. After qualifying as a master NLP practitioner, the psychology graduate now works as a skin confidence coach, helping people with the mental and emotional scars of acne. 'Looking back, the most damaging part of my experience wasn't the spots themselves, but the lonely silence around them. No one talked about how spots made you feel, so I thought I was the only one dealing with it as an adult. I want to get the message out that talking helps relieve stress, and stress relief can only be a good thing for your skin.' How to support stressed skin Dr Alia Ahmed's evidence-based tips for protecting your skin during times of stress Sleep matters – as does timing Sleep deprivation elevates cortisol and delays healing. The skin regenerates overnight. Aim for seven to nine hours, starting before midnight, because your circadian rhythm matters, so eight hours starting at 2am is not the same as sleeping from 10pm. Your cortisol needs to drop for proper healing. Stay hydrated Aim for 1.5–2 litres of water daily. Not just for 'plump' skin, but for gut health, detoxification, and microbiome balance. I also recommend good fats (like omega-3s), probiotics, and vitamin D, especially in darker-skinned individuals, or during UK winters. Feed your skin from the inside There's actually no strong scientific evidence that chocolate or dairy directly cause skin conditions. But we do know high-glycaemic foods can trigger acne in some people. So if someone cuts something out and sees a difference – great. Just make sure they're replacing nutrients properly, and willing to reintroduce them if there's no improvement. Prioritise healthy fats (like omega-3s from fish or flax), fibre-rich vegetables, and probiotics or fermented foods to reduce inflammation Watch alcohol intake I don't say 'never drink, 'just be realistic. If you're flaring up, don't stack back-to-back nights out and then wonder why your face is inflamed. Alcohol is a clear trigger for rosacea and psoriasis, and it dehydrates the skin. But I'm no killjoy, live your life as you want to, just understand the consequences. Keep it simple Avoid aggressive acids or actives when your skin is inflamed. Stick to a gentle cleanser, barrier-repairing moisturiser, and daily SPF (sun protection factor). For Kiara, I advised Tolpa Sebio CICA night cream. Laser treatments More people are asking about these. AviClear is an FDA-approved treatment for acne which is available in the UK, and evidence has shown it can effective when used on its own, or alongside oral and topical treatments. I don't use it in clinic currently, although am looking into it. At-home red light treatments don't have as much research behind them yet, and can be expensive, so discuss with a professional before investing. Rethink how you relax You might think it's too 'woo woo,' but I do recommend journaling, breathwork, walking, or even ten minutes of solitude on your commute, because these things all help regulate the nervous system. Not everyone needs to meditate if they don't fancy it; but everyone needs to decompress. Ask the right questions If your skin condition is affecting your mental health, raise it with your GP. You can request integrated support or referral to psychodermatology services, where available. Don't suffer alone.
