We have had an unprecedented summer this year so one would hope that the majority of us would have topped up our vitamin D levels. However, in the UK, vitamin D derived from sunlight exposure is generally only effective from late March/early April to September. Over the winter months, we are reliant … [Read more...] about The risks of too much vitamin D

In a previous blog we discussed how most sunscreen formulations contain elements that are damaging fragile marine ecosystems causing, for example, bleaching of coral. The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel of the United Nations Environment Programme has expressed concerns about this and the … [Read more...] about A naturally occurring sunscreen?

I think my children breathed a huge sigh of relief when they all eventually went somewhere else to get their hair cut.   I can’t say I particularly enjoyed the experience either; not only was there the stress of getting things even and balanced on either side of the head but there was always the … [Read more...] about The perils of a home haircut

I think the BBC series Blue Planet 2 shocked us all; the oceans are dying and we’re all responsible. I think the most distressing for us as a family was on a recent trip to the new Whale exhibition at the National History Museum. In a corner of the exhibit were pictures of the humps of four whales … [Read more...] about Sunscreens and the planet

Fat is a difficult issue. You need it as an energy store, to keep yourself warm, to pad your bones and provide an attractive, comely shape to some of us. However, most of us constantly strive to have the least amount of body fat possible (though whether that is achieved is another … [Read more...] about Shedding light on fat cells

The clocks have just moved forward, a move welcomed by many as it heralds longer and hopefully brighter and warmer days (though I do rue the loss of that one hour of sleep!)   And talking about all things to do with time and body clocks, it is interesting that the journal of Pediatric … [Read more...] about Spring forward!

It’s not often that we come across a new disease entity. There has, however, been a surge in a type of hair loss that was first described in the literature in 1994 in six post-menopausal women in Australia. [Kossard S. Postmenopausal frontal fibrosing alopecia. Scarring alopecia in a pattern … [Read more...] about A new disease…

Blue is a funny colour; it can bring out different emotions in people depending on the context; Sadness in the Disney/Pixar movie “Inside Out” versus Luke Skywalker wielding a blue lightsaber. (I have firsthand experience of this from having purchased the latter item recently for a certain family … [Read more...] about Feeling blue?

Consultant dermatologists see a lot of patients with acne and there are traditionally a few options available to us in the management of acne.   For mild acne, we prescribe topical anti-acne agents.; for moderate to severe papulopustular acne (red spots and pustules), we prescribe topical anti-acne … [Read more...] about A bird in the hand…

If you’re thinking of doing house renovations or simply repainting your home, it can be a logistic nightmare; figuring out whether you have the wherewithal to do it yourself or get the professionals in, then moving furniture and arranging for it all to be done when there are no children or animals … [Read more...] about You can’t paint over a problem