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.

Have you noticed darker than normal patches on your face, asks London skin expert

The DermaActives hyperpigmentation programme from Elan Medical Skin Clinics

During the summer months, keep an eye out for patches of darker-than-normal skin that can develop on the cheeks, forehead, upper lip, nose, chin and jaw, and sometimes the neck and forearms.

London skin expert, Sue Ibrahim from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in central London and Rayleigh, Essex explains that the condition is called melasma and it’s a common skin complaint that affects women and men.

Melasma is when brown or greyish pigmentation appears on the face, the exact cause of which is not known. But rest assured that it is not contagious, not due to an allergy and is not cancerous. It is not itchy or sore, so if you have a raised rash that is, please seek further advice immediately.

Essex skin expert explains how to stay safe in the sun

With the temperature hitting highs of 35 degrees in central London and Essex this week, it’s time to get out and enjoy this illusive summer sunshine but please stay safe.

Some sunshine is good for us and helps our bodies create vitamin D, not to mention the wellbeing and feel good factors it

Woman stays safe in the sun thanks to advice from Elan Medical Skin expert, Sue Ibrahim

induces. Essex skin expert, Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinic says the best way to enjoy the sunshine safely is to use a daily, broad spectrum sunscreen of factor 30 + and remember to apply it frequently and liberally thoroughly the day.

“The BB cream is perfectly coloured to give my skin a healthy glow”

Thanks for this great review of a product in our DermaActives range Vikki!, from Sue Ibrahim, nurse consultant in dermatology at Elan

DermaActives BB cream created by Sue Ibrahim at Elan Medical Skin Clinics Essex and central London

Medical Skin Clinic, Essex and central London.

“I bought the DermaActives BB Cream in the hope it would even out my complexion and give my face a smooth, uniform finish. I have fair skin and tend to be quite ruddy in my cheeks. I also suffer frequently with a dry forehead so when I use foundation, it cracks and looks unsightly. Instead of the foundation creating a smooth and balanced look it actually highlights the imperfections and makes my skin appear scaly.

The BB cream has a lovely creamy texture that feels like velvet when applied to my face. It comes in two shades, light and medium. I have fair skin so I chose the light and it is perfectly coloured to give my skin a healthy glow without appearing artificial.

BB Cream contains a moisturiser and is SPF 26, both of which are hugely important and beneficial to me. The moisturising aspect means that the problems I have with foundations highlighting my dry skin are overcome and the sun protection is always welcome as my fair skin is prone to sun damage and I am very conscious of protecting it at all times.

I use the cream every day because it makes my complexion look healthy and smooth and like all of us, when we look good, we feel confident. I only need to apply a small amount because it goes a long way. Whilst the initial outlay may seem pricey the product lasts a long time and represents great value.

The fact that the BB Cream is also paraben, fragrance and oil free is obviously a bonus for anyone who has concerns about the content of most cosmetic products or who has sensitive skin.

I would highly recommend BB Cream to anyone who wants a flawless complexion with the added moisturising and sun protection benefits.”

Couple smiling safely in the sun after reading Elan Medical Skin Clinic's blog about sun spots

Essex skin expert talks sun spots and how to avoid them

Age spots, sun spots, actinic keratoses, senile lentigo or solar lentigines, call them what you like!

These flat, brown, gray or black spots are areas of sun-damaged skin found predominantly on sun-exposed parts of the body. These include the backs of the hands and forearms, the face, ears and lips, the scalp in balding men and the lower legs in women, says Essex nurse consultant in dermatology, Sue Ibrahim from Elan Medical Skin Clinics in Rayleigh and central London.

They are not contagious and are usually harmless but there is a very small risk of some sun spots developing into to a form of skin cancer called squamous cell carcinoma.

Seek professional help if you’re worried