The Hour

Recent statistics revealed that more Scots than Australians suffer from malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer. Scots also have an 11 per cent higher risk of developing melanoma than the rest of the UK, and with the hot sunny weather set to return this weekend it’s time to start taking care of your skin.

Dr Victoria Dobbie from Face and Body Medical Cosmetics had some top tips and advice on how to stay safe this summer. She told The Hour:

“The sun is strong in any part of the world, we just don’t see it that often [in Scotland] so we’re not necessarily very sensible about how we take the sun. We’ve got a very high statistic for melanoma and that’s because people don’t protect themselves when they’re actually in the sun.”

Hats are crucial as they protect your face and your scalp. They are particularly important for children as they are often more prone to sun damage than adults. Suntan lotion is also a must. Dr Victoria said:

“You should always use a suntan lotion that’s a minimum of factor 15 and the best ingredient to look for is zinc oxide in an inorganic skincare range or a firm block in an organic skincare range. You should start higher and come down to factor 15, and we don’t apply suntan lotion frequently enough.”

About half a teaspoon of suntan lotion should be applied to your face and this should be reapplied every couple of hours. There are lots of fake tan products on the market that can give you a lovely glow without you having to overexpose yourself to the sun.

If you do overdo it and get burnt, Victoria had some tips on how to minimise the damage. She said:

“If you’ve been burned you need to cool your skin down, so like any burn you need to have a cool shower and then you can use aloe vera or a calomine lotion. Also wear something loose and cotton based so that your skin can breathe.”

For more information on Face and Body Medical Cosmetics see the website.