17 hours ago
'My hairdresser told me I had cancer - what happened next changed my life'
With many Brits forgetting daily sun protection and putting their skin at risk of long-term damage, it could be time to step up your SPF game. Abigail Barnes did after a routine hair appointment...
It's important to look after your skin all year round, but in the summer it's even more vital to stay on top of your skincare. However, almost half of the UK population (45%) does not apply SPF on most days, putting them at risk of sunburn and skin damage.
Dr Susan Mayou, co-founder and consultant dermatologist at Cadogan Clinic ( explains, 'What frequently happens is we get a burst of unexpected UV and people are caught unaware, or maybe it's not that hot but it's quite high UV. In the UK, this happens generally from about April and May onward. People don't realise that they need to be really good about their sun protection.'
A recent survey by The British Skin Foundation revealed that 51% of Brits have experienced accidental sunburn. As well as not being prepared for high UV levels, not remembering to apply SPF to all exposed areas of skin is another contributing factor.
'People often forget they should put SPF on areas like the V of their chest,' says Dr Mayou. 'They remember their face but they'll be out doing something and forget there are other areas of the body they should have covered.
'Often I see people for a skin check who admit they've been sunburned in these situations. I check their skin for cancer, new moles and new pigmentation that's subsequently developed because, historically, they have often neglected to apply SPF.'
Abigail Barnes, 45, a time management coach ( reveals how a skin cancer diagnosis changed her relationship with SPF...
'For a couple of years I'd noticed there was a persistent dry patch on my forehead, but I assumed it must be dry skin or psoriasis, so I thought nothing of it. However, during a trip to the hairdresser in 2019 I mentioned it in passing to my hairdresser, who replied, 'You should get that checked out. It could be cancer or something.'
'It was a throwaway comment and I felt it was a bit dramatic, but it made me keep a closer eye on it. Then, in 2021, I noticed it had gone from a dry patch to a scab that wouldn't heal.
'I phoned the doctor's surgery and booked an appointment. After sending my GP pictures of the area, I was referred to the dermatology unit and, in May, I underwent a biopsy.
'Two months later I received the news that it was skin cancer and needed to be removed. I couldn't believe it. I had honestly been expecting them to comeback and say it was nothing.
'Even though I had the diagnosis in front of me, it was still hard to take it in – right up until I had the operation in August to get rid of it. Now there's just a faint scar, but I religiously use factor 50 now, regardless of whether it's a sunny day or the middle of winter.
'As well as protecting me from UV rays, there's the anti-ageing benefits, too. Even if I'm not leaving my house, I put factor 50 on. I didn't in the past, but now it's just part of my daily routine.'
