Last week’s BMJ is all about dermatology, which is unusual because we don’t normally score that high a profile.  The issue of concern is that more evidence has emerged confirming the harmful use of sunbeds, which is what we, as dermatologists, have been going on about for years, often at the risk of … [Read more...] about The dangers of sunbed use

For the past few years for Hallowe’en, I have made eyeball cupcakes for my children and their friends.  These are quite simply a cupcake with a huge ball of white icing placed on the top which is then decorated to look like a bloodshot eyeball.  After the myriad of reassurances that these are not … [Read more...] about Trick or treat…? What to advise in acne.

Now for those of us with children, it’s coming to that time of year when we’re getting them all ready to go back to school or possibly even preparing them to start school for the first time.  I remember when my eldest started school for the first time; there were a lot of new faces to get acquainted … [Read more...] about Testing for food allergy

If you are dark-skinned and have vitiligo then the summer may be a hard time of year for you.   What is vitiligo? Vitiligo is a not uncommon skin disorder which causes the development of pale or whitish patches on the skin.   It can begin at any age and is usually progressive in that once it … [Read more...] about Summer days can be hard for some…

The vast majority of our workload at the Dermatology department at Orpington Hospital deals with skin cancer and by far and away the commonest skin cancer we deal with is called a basal cell carcinoma (BCC).  Its other name is ‘rodent ulcer.’  Indeed in my adult general clinic today nearly all my … [Read more...] about Basal cell carcinomata (BCCs) – Painless pink papules

Carrying on from 'Choosing the right sunscreen - Part 1', I had a lot more to say about sunscreens to that particular mother in the school playground but time and children did not permit.   What I wanted to explain was that there are essentially two types of suncreens – chemical absorbers and … [Read more...] about Choosing the right sunscreen – Part 2

My family and I love strawberry picking.  So much so, that a friend remarked that we should all be weighed in and weighed out at the strawberry farm; the children (especially the littlest) often can’t help scoffing the odd one or two (or three or four) as we go along the rows.   Thankfully, … [Read more...] about Strawberries and eczema

Needless to say it is the time of year when we are all becoming a bit more aware of our skin.   More people come to dermatology services at this time of year with changing moles, probably because generally warmer weather should mean shorter sleeves and skirts and more skin, (and therefore moles), is … [Read more...] about Changing Moles

Believe it or not, it is now summer!  We were just talking in the dermatology department at Orpington about the unpredictability of the weather.  That day, one of the team had turned up to work in a summer dress, thick opaque tights, wellington boots and a raincoat! However, despite the weather, it … [Read more...] about The Sun And Your Skin