Date: 27/11/2014

Author: Ingrid Katz (Pure Aesthetics)

The holidays are fast approaching and soon we'll be heading off into the summer sun. I am going to remind you why NOT to forget your sunscreen and why NOT to forget to reapply it.

• South Africa has the second highest skin cancer rate in the world after Australia.
• Skin cancer is the most common cancer in South Africa with about 20,000 reported cases every year.
• Approximately 132,000 malignant melanomas occur globally every year.

The upside, is that skin cancer can be prevented by respecting the sun. This means using a good SPF sunscreen (anything from SPF20 – SPF50) with UVA & UVB protection, wearing a hat to cover the head (no peaks) and face and remembering to reapply your sunscreen.
SPF (sun Protection Factor) refers to the extra protection offered by applying a specific sunscreen and therefore differs from person to person. If YOUR skin takes 5 minutes to change colour when exposed to the sun, an SPF20 is going to protect YOU for 20 times longer i.e. 100 minutes. It is thus vital to reapply when exposed for long periods of time and especially after swimming or during sports when sweating may occur.
A significant part of a person's lifetime exposure occurs before the age of 18 and only manifests later in life. It is therefore imperative to take special care with children in the sun, whether it is at the pool, beach or at school. Remember, there is no such thing as a 'complete' sun-block. All sunscreens need to be reapplied at regular intervals.
Check the moles on your skin carefully every month and ask a family member or friend to examine your back and the top of your head. If you notice any changes, see a doctor or dermatologist immediately. Follow these simple guidelines for effective self-examination:

A – A-symmetry, a mole or mark with one half unlike the other. Common moles are round and symmetrical.
B – Border irregularities, scalloped or poorly defined edges. Common moles have smooth and even borders.
C – Colour variations and inconsistency; tan, brown, black, red, white and blue. Common moles are usually a single shade of brown or black.
D – Diameter, larger than 6 mm.

We recommend the Heliocare range of sunscreens.

Pure Aesthetics will be closed between 20 December and 6 January. We wish you a wonderful and peaceful break!