SOLUTIONS TO SKIN PROBLEMS
My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you
We know about avoiding too much sunshine because of the risk of cancer, but all weathers can take their toll. Your doctor would rather see you a dozen times with a skin cancer false alarm than risk missing one, so don’t put off making an appointment if you’re unsure.
Dermatitis is the medical word for inflammation of the skin, so it covers a multitude of conditions. Anyone can get the most common form, “irritant” dermatitis, down to irritation from chemicals like cleaning products. The short term solution is topic steroid cream and regular moisturising cream. Keep exposure to strong chemicals to a minimum to prevent it.
If you have a tendency to allergies, you’re more likely to develop the less common allergic dermatitis. It looks
similar to irritant dermatitis, but often starts in one place where you’ve been exposed to something you’re allergic to. Common culprits include nickel in earrings or metal buttons, or hair dyes or perm products. Unlike irritant dermatitis, the tiniest exposure can cause a reaction, so you may get a patch testing to tell you what to avoid for life. Again, steroid cream will damp down the inflammation and soreness. Eczema is a form of dermatitis, and often goes hand in hand with allergic conditions like asthma. Your skin hates any environment that’s too hot, too cold, too wet, too dry or too windy. So it often gets worse in winter due to a combination of cold wet weather and a dry centralheating. Wrapping up well and wearing natural fabric next to your skin will help.
NEVER IGNORE A NEW OR CHANGING MOLE WITH IRREGULAR EDGES OR COLOUR, BLURRED (NON CLEAR-CUT) EDGES, OR A SIZE OVER 6MM
Avoid strong or scented skin products, soaps and bubble baths which dry the skin. Your pharmacist can advise on unscented soap substitutes like aqueous cream, which prevent the drying effect of being in water. And regular moisturising, ideally several times a day, to replace lost moisture and prevent skin from drying out may prevent flare-ups that need steroid treatment.
Actinic keratoses is sometimes called solar keratoses, because they’re due to sun damage. They start as scaly patches which can be red, brown or skin-coloured. They feel like sandpaper so you can feel them more easily than you see them. The older you are, the paler your skin and the more sun you’ve been exposed to, the more you’re likely to get – 1 in 4 people over 60 has at least one, usually on skin that gets most sun exposure, like face, scalp, forearms and backs of hands.
Small or mild actinic keratoses may not need treatment, but while they aren’t cancerous, there’s a small chance they can change into cancer, so do see your doctor if they grow or change. Treatments include creams applied for a few weeks (these can cause soreness and redness, but it does settle), freezing, or sometimes minor surgery.
Psoriasis affects 1 in 50 Britons, and is non-infectious, causing red, flaky, scaly patches called plaques, ranging from a few patches to widespread, distressing areas of redness. It tends to be worse in winter, as sunshine improves it.
Modern treatments are often based on Vitamin D. As with other dry skin conditions, regular moisturising helps enormously. And in recent years there have been huge advances in treatment for severe cases, with “biologics”, which damp down the immune system issues which often lead to psoriasis. Next week: Joint pain? Dr Sarah Jarvis can help