As summer and the long days of prolonged hot sunshine is upon us once again, the natural instinct to remove items of clothing as the sun comes out is evident. But could your employer be liable if you suffer from skin cancer as a result of removing clothing and not being supplied skin protection cream or sun lotions?

An extensive search for court rulings in which an employer was held responsible for one of their staff contracting skin cancer whilst at work has provider no evidence and no case law provided. However this does not mean that an employer in the future might be found liable if they do not protect their employees welfare whilst at work.

The risks created by the suns rays should never be ignored, but what is being said is that you as an employee are not completely responsible for your own skin protection and employers to some extent must take ownership of the associated risks.

Free sun protection creams and guidance information on the risks of sun exposure should be supplied to employees if they are exposed for considerable amounts of time in the sun, as an example lets think about external workers such as builders, external landscapers etc.

A suggestion if you are spending prolonged periods of time in the sun to protect yourself is to when ever possible wear long sleeved, loose fitting clothing. Not only will this protect your skin, it will also help to keep the body temperature down and also minimise the risk of a heat stroke. Your employer could supply light weight clothing which allows the body top breathe in all weathers or prohibit the removing of clothing for their own safety.

Advise on using sun barrier creams could be instigated and the rule to use these for skin protection mandatory whilst exposed to the sun. A sun protection of no less than Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 should be used as this will provide adequate protection.

Also advice on breaks that they should be taken in doors or in the shade out of the suns rays is another way protection can be offered. If temperatures are particularly hot then, your employer might want to consider being flexible with break allowances incorporating more frequent short rest breaks out of the sun. This time could be used to apply more protection barrier creams and to re hydrate by drinking more fresh cold drinking water.

One of the main causes of skin cancer is exposure to harmful sunrays. If you thought that getting tanned at tanning salons was safer than the sun, please think again before visiting any salon again. Tanning beds and sunlamps are as dangerous as the sunrays.

Most of the bulbs used in the salons emit both UVA and UVB radiations that are also found in the sunlight and are responsible for both Melanoma and Nonmelonoma types of cancers. Exposure to tanning bulbs also reduces our bodys ability to repair the damaged DNA, which is caused by UV radiation.

Tanning not only may cause cancers as the last damage but also prematurely ages the skin. How many of us realize that tanning is bodys response to damage to the skin. every time, you get tanned , you accumulate skin damage. There is no such thing as safe tanning.

Unfortunately the cosmetic trends are pushing more women to tanning salons. More people are inviting cancer for the sake of the tanned look. Melanoma can kill if not diagnosed earlier. Unfortunately the young population is not changing its behavior about getting tanned. as they accumulate skin damage over the years, their getting affected by skin cancer at later stage of their life is increasing.

If you are one of those who believe that a tan is good and that tanning beds or sun lamps are safe, please stop using them. You are putting your life to a very painful death.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.

There are over one million new cases of skin cancer diagnosed every year in the United States, representing about half of all cancers diagnosed in the country. And skin cancer on a dramatic increase. There are twice as many skin cancers in our population today as there were 20 years ago. Given this rate of increase, chances are about 50/50 that you will develop at least one skin cancer lesion if you live to age 70. This is especially true if you are fair-skinned. While skin cancer can occur in people of all races, those with lighter skin have a much higher risk because their skin contains less of the pigment melanin, which helps protect against an overdose of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays, which can lead to skin cancer over time. The effect is apparently cumulative. A body of evidence also suggests that this also applies if you decide to go the “fake bake” route of the tanning salons.

Thankfully, most skin cancers, about 95 percent, are not life threatening. Skin cancer falls into two broad areas: basal-cell cancer / sqamous-cell cancer, and melanoma. The two most common of these cancers are the basal-cell and sqamous-cell carcinomas. These typically are easily treated, usually with surgery, and rarely lead to death. If neglected, however, over time, these can eventually lead to disfigurement and/or can spread with dire consequences. Only about 5 percent of all skin cancers are malignant melanomas, but these are far more dangerous and account for almost all deaths due to skin cancer. This aggressive form of cancer needs to be addressed immediately. Like most cancers, the risk of malignant melanomas will increase with age. If you feel you have developed any type of skin cancer be sure to see a dermatologist at once.

Most skin cancers, as one might imagine, occur on the face, neck and hands as these are the areas that receive the most exposure to the sun due to the fact that most of us wear clothes. These are also the areas that are most exposed to the view of others. As the usual AMA’s (American Medical Association) approach to skin cancer is knife and needle, this can leave unsightly scars just where you might not want any.

But there are alternatives. Having had a number of non-melanoma skin cancers, I’ve had the opportunity to try both the AMA (have the scars to prove it) as well as several “alternative” approaches. The method of treatment that I’ve settled on is the herb Chaparral. Chaparral is a plant that grows in the deserts of the southwestern U.S. and has been used historically by the indigenous populations of the region for a number of ailments. Today, it can be found in powder form at most health food stores. A small bag is all one needs and only cost a few bucks. I make a paste by mixing the powder with wheat germ oil (also found at your local health food store) and apply it directly to the lesion. Then I cover it with a Band-Aid. I do this once in the morning (after my shower) and again in the evening for six or seven days- carefully removing the old paste with a Q-tip. The advantages I have found are as follows: No pain. Perhaps a slight tingling at first. As chaparral only targets the cancerous cells, without affecting the surrounding normal tissue, my skin can quickly begin to repair itself naturally after the cancer is gone leaving usually just a “new skin” pink spot for several months. And all this at a fraction of the cost of a surgical procedure.

If this all seems a bit strange to you, please understand that this is nothing new. There are a number of books that have been written that offer other non-evasive, less painful methods of treating basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers as well. I would recommend the book, The Skin Cancer Answer: The Natural Treatment for Basal and Sqamos-Cell Carcinomas and Keratoses. This book is priced right, easy to read and provides you with what many might feel is a better method of treatment. But check around- and see what work best for you, knowing that many others have taken the non-AMA approach. In any event, use a dermatologist to diagnose what type of skin condition you might have, discuss it with him, but know that there may be cost effective, alternatives to the knife and needle.

The skin, which turns out to be a woman’s pride, is always part of her vanity ritual. This ritual involves the use of every imaginable soap or lotion ever invented to pamper and keep the skin silky smooth. Almost every pampering method is exploited to lavish care and attention on the precious skin. That is why when a woman develops skin cancer, her world is totally crushed and her self-esteem is immediately shattered.

A skin cancer is a cancer that results in the overproduction of harmful cells on the skin. This cancer is usually detected by looking for a pigment called melanoma. Signs of skin cancer include a sudden change in the appearance of the skin or the presence of wounds or sores that don’t heal. The two most common forms of skin cancer are asquamous cells and carcinoma. These two are also better known as non-melanoma skin cancer. There is an estimated 1,000,000 new cases of non-melanoma cancer in the United States for this year alone.

Skin cancer occurs when the UV Light (Ultra Violet) from the sun damages the DNA in skin, causing skin cells to mutate and grow into cancers. Although sunlight is very important, it keeps us warm and it allows skin to manufacture vitamin D which is essential to metabolic processes that leads to having strong bones. On the other hand,the UV light found in sunlight damages the DNA in skin, causing its skin cells to mutate.

People who are at most risk or likely to get skin cancer are those people who spent a lot of time outdoors. People who engage in frequent outdoor activities like mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, working in the farm, or fishing are thought to be predisposed to skin cancer. Urbanites who fancy spending their weekends on hot tropical island getaways are also at risk.

Generally when a cancer is found, it is removed through surgical means and it’s only in advanced cases that the use of chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy is considered. Another least common type of skin cancer is the melanoma which is mostly a common skin cancer in men and women between the ages of 15 to 44 years old. Melanoma is a cancer of melancytes and usually looks dark brown, black or blue-black. It can looked flat or raised. It can look as a patch of normal skin like a mole or a freckle. Some signs of this cancer include:

1.A change of color (much darker than before)
2.Bleeding
3.Itching
4.A mole appears for the first time when you are already over 30

PREVENTING SKIN CANCER AND OTHER SKIN CARE TREATMENT TIPS

lThe sun is at its peak between 10 am to 4 pm and so try to seek the shade or bring a hat or umbrella with you if there is no place that you can seek as a cover from the heat rays.
lUse a sunscreen always with an SPF of 15 or higher when ever possible
lUse a UV-blocking sunglasses.
lExamine your skin, look for some slight changes.
lWhen in doubt seek help from a skin professional so you can take some skin test.

The overall outlook is that you can prevent skin cancer. If you suspect that your mole is cancerous, let a well-trained doctor examine it right away or visit a dermatologist.

Lots of people think that skin allergies are caused by pollution and dirty environments. This is true but the good news is that there are positive things you can do to reduce allergic reactions and symptoms, such as asthma.

Dust mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye. You can find all sorts of information about dust mites on the Internet. However here we will talk about how to control dust mites effectively and reduce symptoms from them.

- Change bed sheets, pillowcases and blankets at least once a week. To kill dust mites, you have to wash bedding in a washing machine at a temperature of at least 130 F. So we recommend you to choose light coloured bedding so that their colour will not noticeably fade.

- Protect your mattress, box springs and pillows with allergy-proof covers. This keeps dust mites away from the flakes of dead human skin cells which are a primary food source for them.

- Keep stuffed toys away from your bed. You might be amazed to learn that stuffed toys can attract dust mites.

- Reduce humidity. It helps if you can lower the relative humidity in your house, normally lower than 50% is sufficent. When dust mites can’t absorb moisture from the air they will shrink and die. You can use air conditioners and dehumidifiers to achieve this benefit.

- Use stone, hardwood or laminate flooring instead of carpet if possible This eliminates an ideal dust mite territory. If you cannot choose your flooring, make sure that you use asteam cleaner on your carpets at least once a year.

- Dust and vacuum your home at least once a week. You need to clean your house regularly. Find a cleaner if you cannot afford the time. Regular dusting and vacuuming will help to control dust and therefore dust mites in your house. Use a damp mop or damp cloths on hard floors and furnishings as dry cloths stir up dust mite remains. Vacuum carpets, sofas, curtains and window blinds regularly with a powerful vacuum cleaner, preferably with a special filter.

- Keep away furry and feathered animals from your bedroom. Your pets’ dead skin cells are another food source for dust mites. So it’s best to have your pets sleep as far away from your bedroom as possible. You can treat your pets’ sleeping areas the same as yours, i.e. regular cleaning and use allergy-proof covers.

Every little helps. For more information, use our special cleaning team, if you are based in London or the South East.

A skin allergy, or what is correctly called contact dermatitis, occurs when your skin comes in contact with something it is allergic to. There are many things that can cause contact dermatitis such as latex, hair dye, perfumes, make ups, bath powders and some household cleaning products. Latex skin allergies are becoming more common as latex is used in many products such as condoms, rubber bands, bathing suits and some toys. It is extremely important if you are allergic to latex that you advise your physician, dentist or any other healthcare worker so they do not use any latex based products on you. The most common skin allergens are poison ivy and poison oak. We all know someone who has come in contact with these in the garden at some point who have developed the painful and itching weeping blisters that accompany it.

Eczema is also considered a skin allergy. Eczema is generally an inherited trait and it usually starts in childhood. A eczema sufferer will have skin that is dry and itchy. There is sometimes also flaking and scaling of the skin and weeping blisters. Children who suffer from eczema are usually found to suffer from hay fever and asthma too.

Hives are another form of contact dermatitis that can be brought on from an internal allergen, such as an allergy to food or medicine, or from an external allergen such as contact with an animal, some plants (poison ivy or poison oak) or soap products. For some foods like chocolate, nuts, tomatoes, and berries can cause hives. Most hives appear quickly but are gone within 24 to 48 hours.

As with other types of allergies such as seasonal pollen, animal allergy or food allergy there is no cure for skin allergies. Most outbreaks of contact dermatitis can be treated with over the counter antihistamines. The best way to avoid an outbreak is to avoid what is causing the outbreak. You can look for non allergenic and fragrance free make up and beauty products. Those who suffer from eczema should avoid extremes of heat and cold and use heavy moisturizers on their skin to help protect and heal it.

Which of these examples do you most associate yourself with? Did you know that Sara and Joseph are both at risk of developing skin cancer? We have all heard the warnings about the dangers of sun exposure. We know all about the importance of wearing sunscreen and hats. But are YOU protected from skin cancer? Consider these myths and facts:

- Myth: Tanning Beds are Safer than the Sun

20 minutes of exposure in a tanning bed is roughly equivalent to four hours in the sun. Although sun beds use UVA rather than UVB rays, ‘The Skin Cancer Answer’ states that “UVA penetrates more deeply into the skin than UVB, can cause skin cancer, and may suppress the immune system.”

- Myth: Wearing Sunscreen at the Beach is Protection

85 percent of UV rays can even make it through on cloudy days. That means you are equally at risk in the car, walking the dog or letting your children out to play at any time of year – even when you’re not at the beach. Of course, you are usually less attired at the beach and so covering up is recommended even when wearing sunscreen. Sunscreen also wears off with sweat and water and should always be applied every two hours or after getting wet.

- Myth: Taking Care Of Your Skin Now Will Protect You

Sadly, skin cancer can take 20 or more years to develop. The Skin Cancer Foundation states that most people receive about 80 percent of their lifetime sun exposure before the age of 18. Just one blistering sunburn in childhood is estimated to double the risk of melanoma later in life. Taking better care now will reduce the risk, but not eliminate the damage already done.

- Myth: Having a Tan Means You’re More Protected

Dark skinned individuals are less likely to develop cancer, but tanned skin is actually damaged skin. Repeated tanning injures the skin and increases the risk of skin cancer.

So how do you plan to protect your family this year? Some suggestions are to limit exposure to the sun – especially for infants. Examine your skin for early signs of damage. Use a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher and apply it at least 30 minutes before exposure and every two hours after that. Teach your children good safety habits and be sure you and they are covered up when outdoors.

Have fun and be safe.