Skin cancer and premature ageing are very real risks from too much sun exposure.<\/p>\n
With Summer just around the corner, now is an excellent time to check your skin for any changes, writes Dr Chris Ahn<\/a>, Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney and an Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) Member.<\/p>\n Current\u00a0clinical guidelines<\/a>\u00a0recommend examining your skin and asking your GP for a skin check if you notice anything suspicious.\u00a0 This entails familiarising yourself with your skin and looking for new moles, sores, lumps or lesions \u2013 or those that have changed size, shape or colour.<\/p>\n If you notice anything peculiar, see your GP.\u00a0 If they deem it necessary to have the mole removed, ask them for a referral to a Specialist Plastic Surgeon<\/a> if you’re concerned about scarring.<\/p>\n We are lucky to live in Australia with a climate envied by the world over, but with it comes an increased risk of sun exposure which can lead to skin cancer and premature ageing if you aren\u2019t sun smart.<\/p>\n Spots on the skin\u2014also known as hyperpigmentation, age spots, solar lentigines, or liver spots, depending on their cause\u2014can happen at any time, but most often appear in middle age.<\/p>\n Most often, they are a consequence of past sun exposure or artificial UV light used in tanning beds.\u00a0 The spots are also associated with certain skin conditions and can occur as a side effect of some medications as well. \u00a0Dark spots are generally harmless, but there are times when they could be\u00a0cancerous. They can be lightened or removed if they cause you concern.<\/p>\n Sunlight has a profound effect on the skin that can result in premature ageing.<\/p>\n The UV radiation can cause collagen to break down at a higher rate than normal ageing.\u00a0 It does this by penetrating the middle layer of skin (dermis), causing the abnormal buildup of elastin.<\/p>\n When these elastins accumulate, enzymes are produced, which inadvertently break down collagen and create so-called “solar scars.”\u00a0 Continued exposure only speeds the process, leading to further wrinkling and sagging.<\/p>\n People often underestimate the sun\u2019s effects on the skin.\u00a0 But it\u2019s not just premature ageing that should make you afraid.\u00a0 Australians have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world.<\/p>\n Melanoma is cancer that arises from melanocytes, the cells that provide pigment (or a tan).\u00a0 With sun exposure, these cells are stimulated to produce pigment to protect the deeper layers of skin.<\/p>\n There is a correlation between the amount of childhood exposure to the sun and the risk of developing melanoma.\u00a0 Due to the developmental origin of this cell, when it develops into cancer, it has a much higher chance of spreading than most other types of skin cancer.<\/p>\n Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) is a common type of cancer that arises from the cells in the deeper layers of skin. \u00a0The risk of developing this cancer is related to cumulative sun exposure. \u00a0It tends to grow in the upper face.<\/p>\n This type of skin cancer rarely spreads to distant sites (metastasises) but spreads in the local area, leading to the need for removal and then skin cancer reconstruction. \u00a0Some subtypes of this cancer can spread quickly and with indistinct edges.<\/p>\n Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the skin is also a common type of cancer. \u00a0It tends to be found on the lower face (especially lower lip) and is the most common type of skin cancer for all areas of the body other than the face.<\/p>\n The risk of developing SCC seems to be linked to the number of sunburns suffered. \u00a0This type of skin cancer can metastasise to other organs, but the risk is small if the cancer is removed while it is small.<\/p>\n Depending on your type and size of skin cancer, a margin is required to be excised with it to ensure that it is completely removed.\u00a0 This establishes the area, shape and depth of the necessary reconstruction.\u00a0 Depending on the position and orientation of the defect, differing reconstruction options may be suggested.<\/p>\n Specialist Plastic Surgeons have been trained to analyse these problems and provide the best functional and cosmetic outcome from your skin cancer reconstruction.\u00a0 Here are a few common ways to remove skin cancers:<\/p>\n Skin lesions that are small enough orientated well and in areas where there is enough laxity in the skin, can usually be removed and closed with a straight-line scar.<\/p>\n A flap is a segment of tissue (skin) with an intact blood supply. \u00a0They can be twisted and manipulated through various geometric patterns to cover up a section of missing skin. \u00a0Depending on the site and size of the defect, these can be simple or very complicated.<\/p>\n A graft is a segment of tissue (skin) that is separated from its blood supply and used to cover a defect.\u00a0 It relies on a good bed for new blood vessels to grow into it \u2013 much like laying turf. \u00a0There are varying thicknesses of graft that can be used in skin cancer reconstruction, each with advantages and disadvantages.<\/p>\n Moh\u2019s surgery refers to a technique of excising the lesion and mapping it. \u00a0It is analysed under the microscope using frozen section techniques. \u00a0It is reported to have clearance rates of over 99 per cent.<\/p>\n By taking fine slices and examining them before removing more tissue, a skilled medical practitioner may be able to minimise the amount of tissue requiring later skin cancer reconstruction.<\/p>\n Yes. \u00a0Very thin cancers of some types can be treated with creams that stimulate the immune system.\u00a0 Other skin cancers can be treated with radiotherapy.<\/p>\n There are several other less common methods of treating skin cancers. \u00a0The advantage of these treatment modalities is the absence of a surgical scar.<\/p>\n The inherent limitation of non-surgical management of skin cancers is that you never know if you have treated enough of the cancer. \u00a0With surgical excision, the pathologist can inform you if the cancer is completely removed.<\/p>\n Non-surgical treatment of skin cancers requires ongoing surveillance to watch for signs of cancer recurrence.<\/p>\n The best advice you can adhere to is age-old, slip on a t-shirt, slop on some sunscreen and slap on a hat.\u00a0 This advice has been updated to include wrapping on a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Skin cancer and premature ageing are very real risks from too much sun exposure. With Summer just around the corner, now is an excellent time to check your skin for any changes, writes Dr Chris Ahn, Specialist Plastic Surgeon in Sydney and an Australasian Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS) Member. How do I check […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":5540,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[16,126,128,124,125,127],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow do I check my skin?<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n
What effects can the sun have on my skin?<\/u><\/strong><\/h1>\n
Brown spots \/ Dark spots \/ Sunspots<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Premature ageing<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What are the types of skin cancer?<\/u><\/h1>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Melanoma and subtypes<\/strong><\/h2>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Basal Cell Carcinoma<\/strong><\/h2>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Squamous Cell Carcinoma<\/strong><\/h2>\n
What is involved in skin cancer reconstruction?<\/u><\/h1>\n
1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Direct closure<\/strong><\/h2>\n
2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Flap<\/strong><\/h2>\n
3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Graft<\/strong><\/h2>\n
4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Moh\u2019s micrographic surgery<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Are there any options other than surgery for treating my skin cancer?<\/u><\/h1>\n
CHOOSE AN ASAPS MEMBER TO ENSURE EXCELLENCE IN COSMETIC SURGERY.<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"