Dr Andrew Freeman | Doctor

Dr Andrew Freeman

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25.01.2022 Skin Cancer - What is it and why should you care? Our bodies are fantastic machines, which constantly monitor, repair and replace abnormal cells on our skin. But like any worker, it can be overwhelmed when there is too much to do and simply not enough workers or time to do the job. Ultraviolet radiation and to a lessor degree other environmental chemicals attack our skin, causing DNA damage. Sometimes the damage can be so extensive or there is so much of it after years of ...accumulation that repair is a rushed job. This results in a faulty skin cell. This cell now doesn’t function like it should and fails to declare its abnormality to the immune system. Its growth rate becomes unregulated and it becomes visible as a skin cancer. Depending on which cell is damaged, skin cancer will look like different things. The first sign is often a new growth. It may be flat or raised, red or dark, tender or not. Often patients best identify these cancers by performing the ugly-duckling test. You’re not sure exactly why it’s strange, but it doesn’t fit with the rest of your skin. Most patients’ instincts are correct. So if there is a spot you are concerned with, you should have it looked at. It’s probably also wise to ask your dermatologist for a full skin examination, as where there is smoke there is often fire and there may be more than one, especially on areas you cannot see well, such as the back. But what does it matter if you leave it? A majority of skin cancer is slow growing. However, several types, such as melanoma or invasive squamous cell carcinoma, if ignored, can spread internally to other organs and in extreme circumstances lead to death. Early detection and intervention prevents this, and the earlier it is detected the simpler the treatment will be for the patient. We all live busy lives, so taking stock of your skin may be difficult. However, nobody will know your skin better than you do. So if you take an extra 5 minutes while getting ready in the morning every 4-6 months to look for that ugly-duckling you may just save your own life. So stay safe, keep that sunscreen flowing and when unsure, seek the advice of your dermatologist.

20.01.2022 Should I be going all natural with my skin care? I get asked this a lot. It’s a difficult question to answer simply, but I think the best way to tackle it is to understand what it means for a product to be natural. Totally natural means unaltered, unconcentrated and unrefined. The kitchen of Mother Nature is amazing, and the benefits of it are unquestionable. However, none of its ingredients were designed or evolved with human skin care in mind. Pl...ants contain multitudes of cells and chemicals, some good and some not so. To achieve consistent and effective results, you want your active ingredient of choice to be pure (refined) at an effective dose (concentrated) and if it has the potential to cause harm, altered to avoid this. Often this means that pure plant extract may not have sufficient activity or consistency to keep your skin safe and your results even. Perhaps a better way to consider an effective, natural product would be a product that contains refined, concentrated organic ingredients. There are loads of fantastic organic compounds that can benefit your skin and still follow these rules. So remember more-natural doesn’t necessarily equal more-better. .............................................. #skincare #skintips #naturalskincare #allnatural #organicskincare #skincareproducts #dermatology #dermatologist #skinexpert

14.01.2022 We are all washing our hands more than usual at the moment to protect ourselves from the transmission of COVID-19. Hand washing is a great way to stay safe, but it can damage the skin of your hands. Dry and damaged skin can no longer function as an effective barrier to the outside world. Aside from the appearance, you might experience redness, itchiness and, if left untreated, it can lead to secondary bacterial infection. ... Fortunately most cases can be remedied by the introduction of a moisturiser regularly to build the skin barrier back up. Bland is best. Unfortunately, it’s best to stay away from those nice smelling ones as they contain fragrance chemicals which can lead to allergic contact dermatitis over time. Moisturisers are generally marketed in two categories; gentle or intensive. Those on the gentle end of the spectrum are manufactured to feel less greasy but last for shorter periods on the skin and vice versa. As always though the best moisturiser is the one you are actually willing to put on. I hope you are all staying safe and don’t neglect your hands as they are under a lot of pressure at the moment. ................................................................. #covid19 #washyourhands #handwashing #moisturise #skincaretip #dermatology #dermatologist #beautytips #skinhealth #protectyourskin

06.01.2022 Skin feeling rough? What does it mean? Under the microscope, the skin surface is made up of billions of tiny cells that form scales over the top layer of skin like protective armour. They work to keep harmful material out and nutrients in. It’s a thankless job and the cells are under constant pressure from the environment including, humidity, chemicals and bacteria. As we age, the amount and the way in which we can produce this outer layer of skin changes. Damage from sun r...adiation, body hormones and topical chemicals all begin to affect the skin more. As a defence mechanism the body may produce more scale to compensate, or if the damage is significant, then the armour being produced might be faulty. Moisturisers can restore some of the balance back into the fight. Their goal is to stop water loss from the skin and to make sure the outer layer of the skin is hydrated so it can flex, creating better armour for the skin. Dry, flaky skin is often a sign that more moisturisation is needed. Thickened skin is often a sign of faulty armour production. It can be because of an overactive immune system such as in psoriasis or damage to the underlying skin stem cells (the ones that make all the new cells) such as in actinic keratosis. A daily moisturiser is a good idea to add to your daily routine, but thickened skin especially with excessive scale or redness, often needs personalised dermatology care to get you the best results. Simple is always best. Rotating through dozens of different treatments to improve your skin is often not needed and can sometimes stop further improvement. So when in doubt, seek advice and as always, sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen. .................................................... #dermatologist #dermatologycare #roughskin #softskin #skincare

03.01.2022 How much sunshine should your little one be getting? As we do our best to practice social distancing and stay at home, the virtues of being outside seem more apparent to us now that they are a little further out of reach. The good news is that, while it may be a little frustrating to be inside, the human body can capture the benefits of sunlight from just short exposures and store it for us to use when we need it as vitamin D.... Vitamin D is actually a fatsoluble, steroid hormone which helps with growth, balancing our immune system, helping our cardiovascular system and cancer regulation. It is produced in our body by absorbing a band of sunlight known as UVB and using it to transform stored precursors to active Vitamin D. This special band of sunlight is most active between 10am and 2pm daily. Just 5 minutes of sun exposure to a tummy or back (i.e. an area of skin not usually exposed to sunlight) a few times per week is all we need to keep stores topped up. If you are in an area which does not have a lot of natural light or are unable to get outside during these times, you can supplement your diet with increased oral intake of Vitamin D through fortified foods such as dairy products. And please, always remember, prolonged exposure to sunlight can hurt your skin, so if you and your little one are going to be outside for longer than 5 minutes, don’t forget to apply that sunscreen!! ................................................ #vitamind #uvb #skinhealth #sunsafe #sunsafety #funinthesun #iso #isolife #skintips #dermatology #dermatologist #skindoctor #doctor #skinexpert #skincare #funfacts #skintipsforkids

01.01.2022 Will enjoying those Easter chocolates cause your acne to worsen? Many people believe that their acne is caused by something they are doing wrong, attributing it to diet, cosmetics or stress. The model of why acne is caused is constantly evolving, but our current understanding is that a vast majority is caused by our internal hormones. Environmental factors such as cosmetics, food and stress play only a minority role. However, the worse your baseline acne..., the more significant these lessor factors might be in causing flares. We have four things we can target when treating your acne. The pore, the oil production, the bacteria that live in our oil glands and the hormones that trigger oil production. Depending on your age, sex and type of acne (yes, there are many types) your treatment might need to target one or all of theses factors. Multiple studies have shown that there is only one food group that consistently may trigger acne (albeit mildly) and that is fat-free milk. Some individuals have a lactose intolerance and they may experience worsening of acne with increased intake of all diary products. It’s important to note that without underlying acne, food (of all types) cannot trigger acne alone. A balanced diet is always a good idea, but rest assured that having a cheat day and enjoying your chocolate responsibly is absolutely safe for your skin! #happyeaster #loveyourskin #skinfacts #acne #dermatologist #chocolate See more