Sun-damaged skin complaints rise
By Alex Watkins APPOINTMENTS with dermatologists have risen since the summer holidays, as people who have overindulged in sunbathing want moles, rashes and allergic reactions checked.
"We get the feeling we have had too much sun and we should check with a specialist to reassure ourselves that everything is fine," explained Dr Alberto Alfaro, the head of dermatology at Valencia's Manises hospital.
One of the most common consultations is about conditions that have got worse due to overexposure to the sun.
"This is the case of polymorphic light eruption (PMLE), which is a type of allergy to the sun, or the patient has noticed changes to a mole," said the doctor.
Also common is what specialists call dyschromia, 'which means the skin has uneven alterations in tone in different areas, for example the melasma, which is a hormonal, dark brown pigmentation that usually appears on women's top lip or forehead', he explained.
For children, the most common post-holiday skin complaint is pityriasis alba, which is very common amongst those who have atopic dermatitis (ec- zema) and produces stains on the skin that are more pale than the rest in a round shape like a coin. The specialists at Manises hospital warn that the climate and latitude of the Valencia region mean we should take particular care and use sun protection all year round, not just in the summer.
"Even in the winter there are very sunny days when we should be protected," insisted Dr Alfaro, and noted it is important to have regular skin check-ups.
When autumn arrives, another common condition that specialists see is hair loss.
Dr Alfaro explained this is known as telogen effluvium, a physiological complaint that is more frequent when seasons change but 'never leaves us bald and resolves itself automatically and naturally'.
There are also some skin problems that are improved by exposure to the sun, noted the specialists, such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In these cases, which are inflammatory by nature, the ultraviolet light has an anti-inflammatory effect (as long as the exposure to the sun is prudent) so they usually get better in the summer and worse in the autumn.