Queensland is the skin cancer capital of the world. Years of sun exposure can cause damage to the skin if left untreated, sometimes resulting in cancerous skin lesions. Even though it is recommended to spend sometime daily outdoors  receive your daily dose of Vitamin D, too much sun will do you more damage and harm than good. The UV index in Queensland is much higher than in the Southern Australian states.

A nice golden sun tan may look attractive but is is actually an injury to the top layer of your skin. Years of sunbathing actually  speeds up the aging of your skin and raises your risk of skin cancer. To prevent damage, we highly recommend the use a “broad spectrum” sunscreen that is SPF 30 or higher.

When you get a sunburn  your skin turns red, it feels hot to the touch, and you may have some mild pain. this generally affects only the outer layer of your skin and we call it a first-degree burn.

A second-degree sunburn damages deep layers of your skin and nerve endings. It’s usually more painful and takes longer to heal. You may have redness and swelling and blisters. If blisters form, do not break them as they may become infected.

Some of the unwanted results of sun damage are listed below

Wrinkles

Ultraviolet light in daylight can damage the fibres in your skin called elastin and collagen. Your skin  begin to sag and stretch. Too much sun may cause some areas of your skin to appear darker, while others look lighter. It can also make permanent changes in small blood vessels. Your skin looses its strength.

Freckles

May appear  to areas of your body that are exposed to the sun. You’ll notice them more in the summer, especially if you’re fair-skinned or have light or red hair. Freckles aren’t bad for you. But some cancers in the earliest stages can look like one. You should seek medical advise if the size, shape or  colour of a sun spot changes, bleeds or becomes itchy.

Melasma

This shows up as tan or brown patches on your cheeks, nose, forehead, and chin. It is most  common in women who are pregnant, but men can get it too.

Melasma may go away after your pregnancy ends, but persistent Melasma can be treated. We  recommend the use of  sunscreen at all times if you have melasma, as daylight can make it worse.

Age Spots (Solar Lentigines)

These  brown or grey areas mostly show up  on your body as you get older. You get them from being out in the daylight. They often appear on your face, hands, and chest. In general they are harmless but an eye should be kept on them to ensure they are not the cause of any more serious spots causing potential skin cancer.

Actinic Keratosis (Solar Keratosis)

These red, brown, or skin-coloured patches are small and scaly. These spots generally appear from too much exposure to day – sunlight. They usually show up on your head, neck, or hands, but they can also appear on other parts of your body.

Actinic Cheilitis (Farmer’s Lip)

This usually appears on the lower lip, and you may have scaly patches, dryness and cracking, or swelling.

The sharp border-line between your lip and skin may also disappear.

Get this checked by your doctor. It may turn into squamous cell carcinoma if it’s not treated.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC)

This type of skin cancer may show up as a firm red bump, a scaly growth that bleeds or gets a crust, or a sore that doesn’t heal. It often happens on your nose, forehead, ears, lower lip, hands, and other areas that have a lot of sun exposure.

Early detection is the key to treat and cure squamous cell carcinoma.

Bowen Disease

This is a type of skin cancer that’s on the surface of your skin. It is often  also called it squamous cell carcinoma.

Unlike “invasive” squamous cell carcinoma, Bowen disease doesn’t spread to the inside of your body. It looks like scaly, reddish patches that may be crusted.

Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC)

Basal cell carcinoma ins the most common form of skin cancer and easy to treat. It generally occurs to skin  that has sun exposure and spreads slowly. The tumours can take on many different forms, including a pearly white or waxy bump, often with visible blood vessels, on the ears, neck, or face. They can also appear as a flat, scaly, flesh-coloured or brown patch or, more rarely, as a white, waxy scar on your back, chest, or legs.

Melanoma

It is the most serious form of skin cancer. Signs include a change in  moles such as shape, size and colour.

Melanoma affects the skin, but it may also spread to organs and bones. Early detection will help with the cure of this skin cancer.

Cataract

This is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye. It’s painless, but it may cause foggy vision, glare from light, and seeing double. You can help prevent cataracts by wearing a hat and sunglasses when you’re in the sun.

What can be done to prevent sun damage to my skin

The best way is to avoid the strong  sunlight especially between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m is to avoid direct sun exposure during this time.

If you can’t avoid being outdoors, ensure you use  a broad spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 and wear protective gear such as a hat, sunglasses protective clothing.

Please ensure you book skin checks every year and keep an eye on any unusual skin spots and moles.

We do offer treatments to improve  sun damaged skin:

PDT (Photo Dynamic Therapy)
Chemical Peels
Herbal Peels
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)
CO2 Laser Resurfacing
Q Switch
Anti Wrinkle Injections
Skin Boosters
Skin Needling
Heal Lite

Please call us on 5539 9534 to book a consultation and complimentary skin analysis.