With the arrival of the summer heat we spend more time at the beach, in the swimming pool and doing other outdoor activities, increasing our skin’s exposure to the sun’s rays, leading to the need to take greater care of our skin. We would like to share the importance of taking care of your skin in the sun. Sun exposure without adequate sun protection can result in conditions such as skin cancer, sun sensitivity and photoageing (pigmentation, wrinkles, severe dryness, etc).

In summer, when spending so many hours at the beach and the pool, it is necessary to protect yourself from UVA rays, especially if you are pale skinned. Pale skinned people suffer most as the paler your skin the more quickly you burn and the less time you should expose yourself to the sun. Applying sunscreen every day and reapplying it every two hours whilst in the sun is recommended with avoidance of exposure to the sun in the middle of the day (from 12.00 to 16.00). Remember to take extra care with young children who need considerably more protection from the sun, especially in comparison to winter.

When carrying out outdoor activities wearing a hat, T-shirt and sunglasses is recommended in addition to sunscreen. These help to protect you from the direct effects of the sun on your skin. Keeping your body continuously hydrated is also advisable.

It is also important to make sure that your skin is adequately hydrated, although this is something we should do all year round, increasing hydration even more is recommended during summer. The use of soap appropriate for your skin type will also help you to protect it.

Although it might not be apparent, nutrition is a significant factor in the care of your skin as well as your body. Intake of antioxidants such as fruit, vegetables or vitamin supplements for example, can help to reduce skin damage that may be caused by the sun. A balanced diet helps to improve your general health and the health of your skin.

Remember to check your skin periodically and visit the dermatologist if you notice anything unusual. In summer the appearance of skin blemishes is common, they are normally caused by the sun. If you notice a mark/blemish appearing after sun exposure then you should visit the dermatologist for a diagnosis, as they can occur for many reasons.

If you have a lot of moles, especially more than a total of 50, if you have a personal or family history of melanoma or if you notice a change in any mole (asymmetry, edges, colour, diameter, elevation…), you should also visit the dermatologist who will check to make sure that there is no reason for concern.

Advice for protecting your skin

• Use high factor sunscreen appropriate for your skin type.
• Apply sunscreen every two hours and avoid sun exposure in the middle of the day.
• Increase sun protection in young children.
• Wear a hat, T-shirt and sunglasses.
• Continuously hydrate your body.
• Use an appropriate soap for your skin type.
• Take antioxidants and vitamin supplements
• Have a periodic skin check-up.

 Dr. HERRERA ACOSTA

Head of Department of Dermatology at Vithas Xanit International Hospital.

New technology is now a fundamental part of our lives, so much so that many mental health professionals are in favour of considering excessive use of the internet as another problem which should be added to the diagnostic system of classification of mental disorders.

New technology, mainly the internet, has become a current trigger for certain addictive behaviours which require psychological intervention. The Psychology Unit at Vithas Xanit has recorded a considerable increase in patients who come for consultations with similar symptoms to those displayed in addiction. These patients present symptoms of unmanageable stress which can result in anxiety expressed as excessive use of this technology.

Advice for early detection of addiction to technology:

• When what is a hobby, work or study tool starts to become the central part of someone’s life.
• The internet stops being used as a mere tool for obtaining information or keeping in touch with other people and becomes a way of finding immediate satisfaction and escaping day to day problems.
• Additional psychological changes: change in mood, anxiety and impatience due to a slow connection or slow response, irritability if interrupted, inability to move away from the screen (including to eat or attend an appointment at the appropriate time), etc.
• Inability to have daily or weekly breaks from connection to the internet and mobile phone.

At Vithas Xanit International Hospital we have specialists in the treatment of Anxiety and Addiction Disorders. They establish individual plans for each patient to prevent these disorders, which can have serious, personal consequences, affecting the patient’s health.

Dr. Guiomar Travesado, psychologist at Vithas Xanit International Hospital

During oncology treatments, many patients are in need of feeling good not only in the inside but also in the outside. In Vithas Xanit we are aware of this need which has an emotional impact on patients during this difficult time.

For this reason, in the Oncology Aesthetics Unit we anticipate the physical consequences of oncological therapies and provide aesthetic solutions to the changes that may occur during this process, as such changes may have a psychological impact on the patient. By offering guidelines, medical advice and proper care for each patient, the specialists in charge of this unit are able to provide patients with the best solutions for minimising physical and aesthetic changes that can occur, and they provide a range of accessories which can flatter the face, body and patient’s lifestyle.

One of the most remarkable side effects of chemotherapy treatments is alopecia. Unfortunately, there are numerous other lesser-known but not less important factors which affect people receiving oncological therapies: skin dehydration, facial hair loss or weakening -eyebrows and eyelashes.

It is of great importance to draw attention to the fact that side effects are different from one patient to another, as they are influenced by various factors, such as age, type of medication, environment, etc. Side effects on the skin, produced by a disease or by a treatment, turn people into a vulnerable group exposing the traces of their disease.

An “ordinary” appearance acts as a disguise which confers a sense of stability, which has a positive effect on the patient´s psychological health, thus helping through the recovery process. It is very important for the oncology patient to have the opportunity to reveal their condition themselves and not to be betrayed by their external appearance.

Our Oncology Aesthetics Unit offers aesthetic advice based on two factors:

• Medical diagnosis: as the unit has 2 dermatologists and 2 cosmetic specialists, before starting a treatment we will take into account several factors and get detailed information about the type of cancer and therapy to be carried out. Measures will be taken based on the aftereffects of each therapy. Also, the three main phases to consider are before, during and after treatment.

• Studying the patient´s body proportions, their daily lives, tastes and activities. We help hide possible physical flaws and highlight their positive attributes as well as their clothing in relation to their lifestyle. Our unit has an image consultant in charge of this.

We also follow a counselling protocol for oncological image:

BEFORE THE TREATMENT

At this stage it is essential to improve the condition of the skin and to get it ready so that the upcoming changes have the least possible impact. We will also start advising the patient on the range of hairpieces and other possible solutions available. Wigs provide a great adaptability with regard to the image that patient may wish to achieve. We can make changes both in shape, colour and hairstyle so that they can adapt to any look.

DURING THE TREATMENT

We must emphasize all those aspects which should be avoided: chemical peelings, waxing, shaving with blades and, in general, any treatment that can cause irritation or skin injury.

Aesthetic treatments at this stage should focus on maintaining the proper levels of hydration, nutrition and skin protection to make it feel as comfortable as possible.

AFTER COMPLETING THE TREATMENT

At this stage we will help the patient regain their aesthetic habits. Depending on the care maintained by the patient during the treatment, regaining the usual cosmetic habits may take a longer or shorter time, and patient might need to be reviewed by a professional on oncological aesthetics (dermatologist, cosmetic specialist) who will use the medical information from the oncologist to instruct a cautious and realistic timeframe.

Dr. Enrique Herrera Acosta

Dr. Herrera, Head of the Dermatology Unit at Vithas Xanit.

Lara García

Oncology Aesthetics Unit