The month of May being dedicated to Skin
Cancer and Melanoma Awareness brings the risks associated with sun exposure and
the link with potential skin cancers to the fore of public opinion. To support
this global health initiative, Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre, in collaboration
with its team of leading dermatologists and supported by SkinCeuticals Advanced
Skincare, shall be offering a number of free consultations for mole assessment
throughout May, thereby increasing awareness about the importance of prevention
and early detection of melanoma.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that
develops from melanin-producing cells, which are normally located in the basal
layer of the epidermis or within the dermis, the outer layer of the skin. Aggressive
forms of melanoma can spread to almost any organ in the body, making it of
vital importance to detect it an early stage.
By far the biggest risk for developing
melanoma is sun damage (UV radiation). The effects of sun damage are
cumulative, meaning that they build up over time. Up to the age of around 30,
cells recover quickly from damage and thus visible damage like sunspots,
wrinkles and moles are relatively rare. Nonetheless every episode of sun
exposure builds up damage (especially in sunny climates like Malta), which
comes apparent and visible later in life.
Unfortunately, local dermatologists have
seen a sharp rise in cases of melanoma over the last years. Experts indicate
that this rise is due to a couple of different factors, such as the depletion
of the ozone layer, popularity of tanning beds, more revealing fashion styles,
and social norms encouraging the desirability of tanned skin. While it’s true
that our bodies need a daily dose of Vitamin D, absorbing enough sunlight to
reach your daily requirements is no problem for people living in Malta. With
the amount of sun hours and strength of the UV rays in Malta, our daily
required dose is easily satisfied without the need for any extra effort.
To protect against the harmful effect of UV
radiation, it is recommended to seek shade and avoid the sunniest hours of the
day, roughly between 11.00 and 16.00. When outdoors, try to protect your skin
as much as possible, wearing a hat, sunglasses and clothing that covers you
skin. Also, as a general rule of thumb, it is highly recommended to use a high
factor broad-spectrum sunscreen (SPF50+) throughout the year, especially in our
sun-blessed Malta. In the summer months it is important to re-apply your
sunscreen every 2-3 hours throughout the day when exposed to the sun.
Together with SkinCeuticals, Persona
Med-Aesthetic Centre emphasizes on the fact that for optimal protection, the
use of antioxidants in combination with a bread-spectrum sunscreen will be
greatly beneficial and increase one’s protection level against harmful UV &
IRA rays. Recent studies show that IRA (infra red radiation) is also
responsible for skin’s photo-damaging effects, hence modern sun protection
should include filters, that provide IRA protection as well. Whereas sunscreens
protect against UVA and UVB radiation from the outside, antioxidants work from
the inside, protecting against free radicals formation and DNA damage to skin
caused by UV & IRA rays. Studies show that even the best sunscreen, when
applied, offers up to 55% protection against UV damage, but when combined with
a powerful and well-formulated antioxidant, protection levels rise even up to
98%. In this light, during the month of May, Persona is offering a Free
sunscreen to all those who purchase one of SkinCeuticals’ revolutionary antioxidant
products, to help educate on the
importance of combining and anti-oxidant with a high SPF sunscreen in one’s
daily routine.
Another important element in the fight
against melanoma is self-examination, for you to detect suspicious lesions as
early as possible, and bring these to the attention of your dermatologist at a
very early stage when treatment has a very high success-rate.
A popular method for self-examination is
the ABCDE-method, where the letters stand for 5 indicating factors of melanoma;
A - for Asymmetry in shape, B – for irregular Borders, C – for Colour
variations, D – large (6mm+) Diameter, E – for Evolution that marks a change
over time.
‘Dermatologists world-wide insist that
there’s nothing healthy about a sun tan, therefore through this campaign, we
hope more people will become aware of the dangers of unprotected or
inadequately-protected sun exposure’, says Kate Demanuele, General Manager of
Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre. ‘Prevention and early detection measurements of
skin cancer, can save lives, therefore we hope this campaign will have its
needed impact on people’s lifestyle and their skin health.’
By harnessing the power and influence of
print and social media, Persona’s aim is to spread the message about melanoma
as far and wide as possible. Various informative materials will be spread
through Persona’s website (www.persona.com.mt) and its Facebook page (Persona
Med-Aesthetic Centre) as well as through the local facebook page of SkinCeuticals,
and through local bloggers and media, hoping to reach a bigger crowd.
We remind the public that as part of its
SkinCeuticals year-long charity campaign launched earlier this year, Persona
will donate 5% of all SkinCeuticals 2015 sales to Hospice Malta at the end of
2015.
SkinCeuticals antioxidants and high
quality, broad-spectrum sunscreens are available exclusively at Persona
Med-Aesthetic Centre in Ta’ Xbiex or can also be purchased online through the
website www.persona.com.mt. Readers can contact Persona on 21340366 or
info@persona.com.mt.
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