Mole checking is vital says London skin expert

Woman has her moles checked by a professional - Mole checking is essential says Sue Ibrahim the nurse consultant in dermatology from Elan Medical Clinics in central London and Essex

Mole checking is essential says Sue Ibrahim the nurse consultant in dermatology from Elan Medical Clinics in central London and Essex

Moles, brown spots and growths on the skin are usually harmless, but not always. If you have a certain type or large number of moles (more than 100), you are at greater risk of developing skin cancer.

The ABCDE method for checking moles is very useful but if in doubt, getting them professionally assessed is vital, says Sue Ibrahim. Sue, the nurse consultant in dermatology at Elan Medical Skin Clinics, has more than 30 years’ experience of assessing and removing moles using the latest advanced radio-wave technology. Click here to read reviews from her clients.

Asymmetry

If you draw a line through the middle of a mole, the two sides will match, meaning it is symmetrical. Anything asymmetrical is a warning sign for melanoma.

Sunburn increases risks of skin cancer

Are you aware that sunburn in childhood or adolescence can double the risk of developing melanoma, a lethal form of skin cancer in later life?

So how should you deal with sunburn if you have been burnt over the weekend? Our Dermatology Nurse Consultant, Sue Ibrahim, explains the immediate first aid steps you need to take….

Sunburn increases risks of skin cancer in later life

1. Act quickly and get out of the sun

Cover up the affected areas and stay in the shade until your sunburn has healed. Wear loose cotton clothing that allows your skin to breathe over the sunburnt areas.

2. Take over-the-counter pain relief

Analgesia or painkillers can help relieve the pain and reduce inflammation caused by sunburn. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen are ideal and should be continued for a period of at least 48 hours if there are no contraindications. Paracetamol will help with pain but has little effect on inflammation.

3. Cool the skin

Apply a cool compress to the skin such as a towel dampened with cool water for 15 minutes, or take a cool bath or shower. Aim to keep the temperature just below lukewarm. Make sure the shower has a gentle flow of water rather than being on full power.

If blisters are starting to develop, then a bath is preferable. Do not rub your skin with a towel, but gently pat it dry when you get out.

4. Moisturise

After a bath or shower, use an unperfumed cream or lotion to soothe the skin. Repeated applications of this are necessary to reduce the appearance of peeling and this may need to be continued for several weeks.

Aloe vera or soy-containing gels or lotions can be beneficial in soothing the skin. Aloe vera not only has a cooling effect on the skin but also acts as an anti-inflammatory.

Be wary of using creams or lotions that contain petroleum, benzocaine, or lidocaine. These can either trap heat in the skin or cause local skin irritation.

5. Stay hydrated

Sunburn can encourage fluid loss through the skin. Drinking plenty of water will prevent dehydration and help your body recover. Alcohol should ideally be avoided during this time as it will make dehydration worse.

6. Leave blisters alone

Try not to pop blisters as this can lead to infection and scarring. They will settle by themselves after a few days. In the meantime, treat the skin gently.

Remember sunburn can cause long-term damage to the skin and prevention should be the key.

For further information about skin cancer and its prevention, make an appointment to see our nurse consultant in dermatology who can discuss sun-protection and mole monitoring with you in detail.

Aftercare is as important as your treatment says London skin expert

Elan Medical DermaActives has recently launched DermaRecovery Stem Cell Cream, a brand new powerful skin rejuvenating aftercare cream that revitalises and nourishes ageing and traumatised skin.

Having a new skin treatment is very exciting – but please don’t forget your aftercare warns Sue Ibrahim, the skin expert at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh Essex.

Following skin treatments such as veinwave, chemical peels, laser treatment, fractional skin resurfacing, plasma soft surgery, dermal fillers and wrinkle reduction our skin can become highly sensitive. This means that it is more prone to infection, which can lead to scaring. The solution? Ensure you use aftercare products that are:

Spring is in the air!

It’s time to prepare your skin for the summer .

We have just passed the Spring Equinox, the clocks are about to change and now that the days are slowly starting to get longer and our mornings are brighter and warmer, there’s a real spring in the air.

In fact, as if from nowhere, spring has sprung. Everywhere you look, there are signs of new life – buds of colour bursting from the earth, baby animals prancing around the fields, and leaves and flowers blossoming from the trees.

Spring is in the air!

As we start to move into a new season, it’s the perfect time for giving your skin a boost and at Elan Medical Skin Clinic we would like to offer you £20 to use against either a DermaBright skin peel, LED Phototherapy or a Endymed 3 Deep treatment.

Why not book a course of LED Phototherapy sessions? A course of 6 weekly treatments is normally £320 but with your £20 discount it will only cost you £300! Want to try one session first? No problem, you can use your £20 against one session. This will mean one £59 session will only cost you £39.

London skin expert can help reduce the appearance of acne scars

Beautif woman touches her smooth facial skin. If you have acne scars, speak to Sue Ibrahim, nurse consultant in dermatology at Elan Medical Skin Clinic to find out how she can help.

If you have acne scars, speak to Sue Ibrahim, nurse consultant in dermatology at Elan Medical Skin Clinic to find out how she can help.

As if having acne wasn’t bad enough, the scarring left behind can cause as much upset as the acne itself. The medical micro-needling and fractional skin resurfacing treatments at Elan Medical Skin Clinic will significantly improve the appearance of acne scars, allowing you to feel more confident and happy with your complexion.

Acne can lead to scarring when the most severe types of spots – nodules and cysts – burst and damage the overlying skin. Scarring can also occur if you pick or squeeze your spots, so it is important to avoid doing this.

Treatments for acne scars

Elan Medical – Is Botox safe in London?

Want to look your very best by channelling a younger version of yourself at upcoming Christmas and New Year parties? Botox is very effective. It relaxes your facial muscles to stop them from contracting and removes the lines and wrinkles which contribute to you looking older. This is a treatment, which effectively turns back the clock to make you look more youthful. Read More…

£20 vouchers up for grabs

Friends chat through the refer a friend offer at Elan Medical SKin Clinics

Refer a friend and when they book a dermatology consultation or cosmetic consultation with us you will receive a £20 voucher to be put towards any Elan treatment or DermaActive skin care product.

Friendship is more than skin deep

Two friends enjoy the £50 voucher offer at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Essex and central London

If you and a friend spend up to £350 on Elan treatments, DermaActive products or a combination of both by March 31st 2017 then you’ll receive a £50 voucher that can be spent on Elan treatments or DermaActive products of your choice. T&Cs apply.

Terms & Conditions

There is no cash alternative

Vouchers must be redeemed by the valid-to date

Voucher is not transferable

Voucher value to be shared between both parties

London skin expert helps women fight the effects of the menopause

The menopause can leave women feeling feel constantly tired, tearful, forgetful, full of aches and pains and hot and bothered. The menopause can cause disrupted sleep, night sweats, reduced libido, thinning hair, frown lines and wrinkles. And if all that wasn’t quite enough, we can also suffer dull, lifeless skin!

DermaRepair Night Cream from Elan Medical Skin Clinic’s DermaActives range

But there is help at hand!

London skin expert Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Essex has more than 30 years’ experience of treating women with skin related issues, especially those going through the menopause.

Sue has helped a wide range of women who are either pre-menopausal, peri-menopausal or post-menopausal. Hormonal changes during the menopause can trigger anxiety, depression, fears of growing old and fears of looking older.

London skin expert offers £20 voucher!

A graphic of Elan Medical Skin Clinics' skin and wrinkle assessment

Fill in Elan Medical Skin Clinics’ skin and wrinkle assessment and enjoy a £20 voucher for DermaActives skin care range

Take Elan Medical Skin Clinic’s brand new ‘Skin and Wrinkle Assessment’ and you’ll receive a £20 voucher towards Elan’s DermaActives skin care range. What’s not to love?!

The skin and wrinkle questionnaire helps you discover your skin’s true potential and asks a series of questions to find the right treatment for your skin.

By telling the London skin experts at Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh, Essex what type of skin you have, its condition and the areas of your face (if any) that you are unhappy with, we will provide instant results that include:

Suggested skin care treatments
Suggestions for DermaActive products
Suggested cosmetic treatments