Your skin is the largest organ in your body. This may surprise some, but there is so much more to our skin than how it looks. It’s responsible for keeping all our internal organs snug and safe, while protecting them from our seemingly hostile external environment.
Collectively, the human body is truly miraculous, but we often take our skin for granted. When you think about all the elements skin is exposed to, it is extremely resilient and a very forgiving part of our make-up. Let’s picture this in a little more detail. We have all been sunburnt at some stage, some more than others; we have cut, grazed and bruised ourselves more times than we can probably count; we have exposed ourselves to a range of chemicals, treatments and beautifying techniques; and some of us may have had tattoos or other permanent inclusions added to our skin. Regardless of what we’ve done, for most of us, our skin continues to carry out its vital job without fault.
But what if your skin was not so forgiving! Unfortunately, sometimes our skin can retaliate in nasty ways. People who suffer from a dermatological condition will know this all too well but, along with premature ageing, there is also the possibility of skin cells turning cancerous, taking the form of the well-known Melanoma, the rarer yet more aggressive Merkel Cell Cancer or the more common, non-melanoma Squamous and Basal Cell Cancers. Considering this, you need to ask yourself – is your skin safe in your hands?
While sometimes skin concerns are unavoidable, below are our top five tips to help make sure your skin receives the best possible treatment, particularly when it comes to preventing or spotting skin cancer.
- Be aware of your skin.
This is number one for a reason.
How well do you know your skin and what is normal and abnormal? Get to know your skin so you will recognise any changes or abnormalities.
- Get a check-up with an expert
Everyone should have this done on a regular basis. Once every year generally suffices, however, if there is a family history of melanoma or if you have previously had skin cancer, take the precaution and do it more frequently. If you notice a new sore on your skin, or one that won’t heal, get it checked immediately.
- Protect your skin where possible
As stated, your skin is a crucial part of your make-up so whenever possible, protect it from the sun and other harmful elements such as chemicals and other ailments.
- Think twice before you try to alter it
Laser treatments, chemical peels, tattooing; what chemicals are you leaving in your skin and do you know they are safe for your skin both in the short and long term? Before undergoing any procedure, we highly recommend asking questions related to possible effects on your skin in conjunction with sun exposure as a result of the treatment.
- Put sunscreen on each day
Regardless of the amount of time spent in the sun, make it part of your daily routine. Not only will you be protecting yourself from skin cancer but you’ll help prevent ageing lines and wrinkles too. It’s also important to note that the younger you start, the more your skin will thank you in the future.
Considering these five tips, we challenge you to a ‘be kind to your skin’ week. Whether you get to know your skin better, take yourself for a check-up, put on sunscreen each day or just do something different to make sure you’re looking after it, we are certain you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make and the confidence you will have in knowing you are ok. What have you got to lose, and your skin will love you for it. We’d love to hear all about it too. If you’re happy to share, please keep us updated by letting us know what you did, the feeling/confidence you got from it or any physical results achieved.
Good luck.
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